Iridium
Global satellite phone
Iridium is a dense, silvery-white metallic element, one of the platinum group metals.
It is extremely hard, brittle, and highly resistant to corrosion—the most corrosion-resistant metal known.
Iridium appears in spark plugs, crucibles, and other applications requiring durability under extreme conditions.
A layer of iridium in geological strata marks the asteroid impact that ended the dinosaurs.
Dense precious silvery metal
- metalHard conductive solid
- denseClosely packed together
- transitionChange from one state
- periodic tableSystematic display of elements
atomic · silvery · corrosion-resistant · rare · heavy · lustrous · refractory · oxidation
Sun-orbiting rocky mass
- meteoriteSpace debris reaching Earth
- K-Pg boundaryGeological extinction horizon
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
impact · crater · sediment · Alvarez · dinosaur · bolide · cosmic · extraterrestrial
Electrical ignition component
- crucibleVessel for extreme heat
- electrodeConductive interface point
- hardeningBecoming less soft
- alloyMetallic combination
electrical contact · thermocouple · wear-resistant · high-temperature · durability · machinery · aerospace · automotive
Base unit of mass
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- metreBase metric length unit
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- measurementDetermining size or amount
calibration · precision · reference · artifact · metrology · unit · weight · laboratory
Handset using orbital relays
- telecommunicationsRemote signal transmission technology
- global coverageExtent across all areas
- LEOAcronym for close orbits
- orbitCurved celestial path
flare · communication · network · handheld · remote · maritime · aviation · polar
platinum
Dense precious silvery metal
- metalHard conductive solid
- denseClosely packed together
- transitionChange from one state
periodic table · atomic · silvery · corrosion-resistant · rare · heavy · lustrous · refractory · oxidation · alloy
asteroid
Sun-orbiting rocky mass
- meteoriteSpace debris reaching Earth
- K-Pg boundaryGeological extinction horizon
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
Cretaceous · impact · crater · sediment · Alvarez · dinosaur · bolide · cosmic · extraterrestrial · anomaly
spark plug
Electrical ignition component
alloy · electrical contact · thermocouple · wear-resistant · high-temperature · durability · machinery · aerospace · automotive · metallurgy
kilogram
Base unit of mass
measurement · calibration · precision · reference · artifact · metrology · unit · weight · laboratory · instrument
satellite phone
Handset using orbital relays
- telecommunicationsRemote signal transmission technology
- global coverageExtent across all areas
- LEOAcronym for close orbits
orbit · flare · communication · network · handheld · remote · maritime · aviation · polar · signal
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
- satellitessatellites, satellite, weather satellite, communications satellite, GPS satellite
- satellite phonessat phone, antenna, airtime, coverage map
- synthesizerssynthesizer, synth, modular, analog, oscillator
- Space MissionsVoyager, Cassini, Galileo, Pioneer, Juno
- iridium layerMetal-rich geological stratum