Chrisar Software Technologies has chosen Applied Satellite Engineering (ASE) to create a satellite data solution for a whale reporting program that utilizes the satellite network operated by Iridium Communications Inc. ASE is using the Iridium short-burst data (SBD) modem with software customized for this application. Watchstanders on ships will use the system to record and transmit reports of whale sightings through the Iridium network to a central server. Trials are underway on a small number of ships with large-scale dissemination planned for 2010.•