Next-generation satellites gave federal officials key data in Boeing 737 Max investigation

I remember when you couldn't give an Iridium sat phone away. The company went bankrupt, and the US government stepped in to buy/manage the whole setup. I don't know where they are now, who owns them, but the idea was 'ahead of its time'.

Now, you can have small handheld units that send and receive messages across the planet, and can get help and recovery assistance anywhere too.

But relying in satellites also puts this country at risk in the event of a problem with a country that has satellites already in orbit, or that can strike a satellite in orbit. One, or a couple hits, and no accurate tracking, targeting. A bad idea...