Satellites made in Gilbert are going to be on their way to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, for a launch into space this fall.
Virginia-based Iridium Communications said the new satellites will replace older ones used by satellite phones.
The launch will mean more stuff in space.
"Space is pretty big, but the issue is, what's the possibility of these objects colliding with other objects or pieces of debris," said John Crassidis, a professor of space situational awareness at the University of Buffalo.
Crassidis helps track about 8,000 pieces of space debris that are a softball's size or larger.
