Eccentric Orbits

Starred review from April 15, 2016
A spellbinding history of a massively impressive work of technology.Cellphones barely cover 14 percent of the world. Most readers will be surprised to learn that another service, Iridium, covers the entire Earth through a dazzling system of a few dozen satellites launched in 1997 and still operating today. It is expensive, and the handsets are nonsmart, but if you're climbing Mount Everest, crossing the ocean, or wintering in Antarctica, you can phone home. A tireless researcher, investigative journalist Bloom (co-author: Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs, 1985, etc.) delivers a superlative history in which politics and cutthroat business tactics often overshadow the technical feats. In 1987, during the stone age of cellular phones, Motorola engineers proposed to make reception easy and universal through satellites. Rival systems were already in the works, and national phone monopolies hated competition. The 10 years before the 1997 launch, writes the author, were "full of treachery, deception, and espionage worthy of the Roman Senate at its worst, penetrating across borders, arousing the ire of nations, and often resulting in outright violations of the law." Nine months after beginning operation on Nov. 1, 1998, Iridium filed for bankruptcy. Mismanagement was a factor, but the phone itself, as large as a World War II walkie-talkie, cost $3,500 to buy and $4 to $7 per minute to use. From the mad scramble that followed emerged Bloom's hero: elderly, retired entrepreneur Dan Colussy, who managed to block Motorola's yearning to destroy the satellites, assemble investors, persuade government officials that Iridium was essential to U.S. security, and revive the service. Colussy's efforts, which take up the second half of the book, turn out to be no less gripping than Iridium's launch and flameout. A tour de force history of a star-crossed technological leap.

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June 15, 2016

In his latest work, investigative journalist and author Bloom (Evidence of Love) tells the strange tale of the Iridium satellite constellation. Consisting of 66 satellites, Iridium is able to beam telephone calls and data across Earth's entire surface. Built on the technology of the Strategic Defense Initiative (popularly known as Star Wars), Iridium was launched by Motorola in November 1998. Unfortunately, it was immediately marred by numerous problems, including distribution issues, extremely high service costs, and huge debt. By August 1999--a mere nine months after its launch--Iridium filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Motorola prepared to deorbit the satellites, until retiree and former head of Pan Am Dan Colussy decided to get involved. With a steadfast effort and help from a diverse group of investors, Colussy eventually rescued Iridium from the brink. Bloom's account is readable and thorough; he provides a great deal of background information on satellites and biographical information on the key players. The work's title is appropriate, as the satellites are organized into six eccentric orbits that are slightly disinclined so that they do not collide with one another. Eccentric is a suitable term for many of the individuals involved with Iridium as well. VERDICT Bloom's well-researched work will appeal to those interested in business, science, and technology.--Dave Pugl, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 15, 2016
Smartphone users accustomed to texting their BFFs at a moment's notice may be surprised that cell-tower arrays provide coverage for a mere 15 percent of the Earth's surface. Fortunately, callers prosperous enough to afford a walkie-talkie-sized, satellite-linked handset can still phone home even in the remote outback or Alaskan wilderness. The surprising backstory behind this higher-tech option, however, is that it's only still available today because in 2000 a retired Pan Am CEO named Dan Colussy took desperate measures to keep the orbiting satellite constellation known as Iridium from being destroyed by its makers at Motorola, the Illinois-based telecommunications giant. In this revealing account of Iridium's troublesome history, Pulitzer-nominated journalist and author Bloom describes the successful launch of Motorola's plan for 66 globally connected satellites, the venture's disastrous commercial failure, and Colussy's quixotic but effective scheme to secure funding for Iridium's continuation from an assortment of investors in shipping, aviation, and the military. In his masterful history, Bloom skillfully spins a somewhat geeky topic into a riveting page-turner almost anyone can enjoy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)