2011 Iditarod(R) Sled Dog Race

The Iditarod Sled Dog Race, also known as the “Last Great Race on Earth,” runs from Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea. The race covers more than 1,049 miles in 10 to 17 days. The iconic competition pays homage to the mushers who, in 1925, raced across the Alaskan wilderness to deliver needed diphtheria serum to Nome via the Iditarod Trail mail routes.

Each of the Iditarod racers will be armed with an Iridium-based GPS tracking devices. These devices will track the sled’s location, speed, heading, altitude and air temperature every 15 minutes through the Iridium satellite network.

The racers will also be equipped with Iridium satellite phones, which will be used for race safety communications during the race.

Race fans can view the sleds’ position updates transmitted via Iridium 24 hours a day on www.iditarod.com. The racers themselves will not be able to view the data from the trackers in the field.

“Safety is our number one priority for the Iditarod, and Iridium is the only satellite system that provides reliable coverage across the entire Iditarod trail,” said Stan Hooley, executive director of the Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC). “At many of the checkpoints throughout the trail, we are relying solely on the Iridium tracking devices and phone handsets to provide a critical safety and communications lifeline for the mushers, dogs, medical personnel, media, bush pilots and volunteers who staff the isolated checkpoints along the trail.”

“For over five years, Iridium and our partners have supported the Iditarod,” said Greg Ewert, executive vice president, global distribution channels for Iridium. “We wish all the mushers a safe and successful race as they face this supremely difficult challenge.”

Source: Iridium.com

Isatphone Pro at the Dakar Rally

The Dakar Rally – the world’s toughest off-road race – will rely on IsatPhone Pro for communication.

Various race teams, security organisations and the media will use Inmarsat‘s new global handheld satellite phone throughout the 16-day, 5,600-mile (9,000km) challenge in South America.

The extreme conditions – including remote desert tracks and twisting mountain passes – will prove the ultimate road test for IsatPhone Pro

Inmarsat is sponsoring Brazil’s Petrobas Lubrax team with IsatPhone Pro handsets and a Thrane & Thrane Explorer 500 BGAN terminal.
Using Inmarsat, the competitors are able to keep in contact with their support teams from the rally’s remotest points. And they can also share footage of the race with the media and rally fans worldwide.

The Petrobas Lubrax team has competed in the Dakar Rally since 1988, taking 21 podium positions, including eight first places. This year they are in a field of 430 cars, trucks, motorbikes and quad bikes, driven by a mix of amateurs and professionals.

Dakar Rally 2011:www.dakar.com
Source: Inmarsat