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Iridium

Iridium [Lockheed Martin]

Iridium provides global mobile telecommunications services using a constellation of 66 low earth orbit satellites in a 86.4° inclined orbit. Although 77 satellites were originally envisioned for the system and spawned the name based on the 77th element in the periodic table, the system has been scaled back. Motorola's Satellite Communications Group designed and manufactured the Iridium satellites with Lockheed Martin providing the LM-700A spacecraft buses.

Unlike other mobile satellite systems, Iridium employs Inter-Satellite Links to route signals from satellite to satellite using on-board signal processing. Each satellite is connected to its four neighboring satellites providing flexibility in where the ground network gateways are located. These gateways connect the Iridium network to the public switched telephone network.

The satellites will be replaced with the second generation Iridium-NEXT constellation beginning in 2016.

On 11 February 2009, Iridium 33 collided with the Kosmos 2251 (Strela-2M #51) satellite. Both satellites were completely destroyed and more than 600 pieces of debris were tracked.

Nation: USA
Type / Application: Communication
Operator: Iridium LCC
Contractors: Motorola (Prime), Lockheed Martin (Bus)
Equipment: ?
Configuration: LM-700A
Propulsion: ?
Power: 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime: 8 years
Mass: 689 kg
Orbit: 780 km × 780 km, 86.4° (initial / storage orbit: 667 km × 667 km, 86.4°)
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Iridium 01 - not launched
Iridium 02 - not launched
Iridium 03 - not launched
Iridium 04 1997-020E 05.05.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 05, 06, 07, 08
Iridium 05 1997-020D 05.05.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 04, 06, 07, 08
Iridium 06 1997-020C 05.05.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 04, 05, 07, 08
Iridium 07 1997-020B 05.05.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 04, 05, 06, 08
Iridium 08 1997-020A 05.05.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 04, 05, 06, 07
Iridium 09 1997-030C 18.06.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16
Iridium 10 1997-030D 18.06.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16
Iridium 11 1997-030G 18.06.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16
Iridium 12 1997-030B 18.06.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16
Iridium 13 1997-030E 18.06.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16
Iridium 14 1997-030A 18.06.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16
Iridium 15 1997-034A 09.07.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 17, 18, 20, 21
Iridium 16 1997-030F 18.06.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Iridium 17 1997-034B 09.07.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 15, 18, 20, 21
Iridium 18 1997-034D 09.07.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 15, 17, 20, 21
Iridium 19 1997-056A 27.09.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 34, 35, 36, 37
Iridium 20 1997-034C 09.07.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 15, 17, 18, 21
Iridium 21 1997-034E 09.07.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 15, 17, 18, 20
Iridium 22 1997-043E 21.08.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 23, 24, 25, 26
Iridium 23 1997-043D 21.08.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 22, 24, 25, 26
Iridium 24 1997-043C 21.08.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 22, 23, 25, 26
Iridium 25 1997-043B 21.08.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 22, 23, 24, 26
Iridium 26 1997-043A 21.08.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 22, 23, 24, 25
Iridium 27 1997-051D 14.09.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33
Iridium 28 1997-051E 14.09.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33
Iridium 29 1997-051A 14.09.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33
Iridium 30 1997-051F 14.09.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33
Iridium 31 1997-051G 14.09.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33
Iridium 32 1997-051B 14.09.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33
Iridium 33 1997-051C 14.09.1997 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 / destroyed in collision with Kosmos 2251
Iridium 34 1997-056E 27.09.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 19, 35, 36, 37
Iridium 35 1997-056B 27.09.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 19, 34, 36, 37
Iridium 36 1997-056C 27.09.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 19, 34, 35, 37
Iridium 37 1997-056D 27.09.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 19, 34, 35, 36
Iridium 38 1997-069E 09.11.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 39, 40, 41, 43
Iridium 39 1997-069D 09.11.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 38, 40, 41, 43
Iridium 40 1997-069C 09.11.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 38, 39, 41, 43
Iridium 41 1997-069B 09.11.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 38, 39, 40, 43
Iridium 42 1997-077A 08.12.1997 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 44
Iridium 43 1997-069A 09.11.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 38, 39, 40, 41
Iridium 44 1997-077B 08.12.1997 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 42
Iridium 45 1997-082A 20.12.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 46, 47, 48, 49
Iridium 46 1997-082B 20.12.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 45, 47, 48, 49
Iridium 47 1997-082C 20.12.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 45, 46, 48, 49
Iridium 48 1997-082D 20.12.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 45, 46, 47, 49
Iridium 49 1997-082E 20.12.1997 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 45, 46, 47, 48
Iridium 50 1998-010D 18.02.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 52, 53, 54, 56
Iridium 51 1998-018A 25.03.1998 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 61
Iridium 52 1998-010A 18.02.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 50, 53, 54, 56
Iridium 53 1998-010E 18.02.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 50, 52, 54, 56
Iridium 54 1998-010C 18.02.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 50, 52, 53, 54
Iridium 55 1998-019A 30.03.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 57, 58, 59, 60
Iridium 56 1998-010B 18.02.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 50, 52, 53, 54
Iridium 57 1998-019B 30.03.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 55, 58, 59, 60
Iridium 58 1998-019C 30.03.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 55, 57, 59, 60
Iridium 59 1998-019D 30.03.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 55, 57, 58, 60
Iridium 60 1998-019E 30.03.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 55, 57, 58, 59
Iridium 61 1998-018B 25.03.1998 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 51
Iridium 62 1998-021A 07.04.1998 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68
Iridium 63 1998-021B 07.04.1998 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68
Iridium 64 1998-021C 07.04.1998 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68
Iridium 65 1998-021D 07.04.1998 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68
Iridium 66 1998-021E 07.04.1998 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68
Iridium 67 1998-021F 07.04.1998 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68
Iridium 68 1998-021G 07.04.1998 Ba LC-81/23 Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
Iridium 69 1998-026A 02.05.1998 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 71
Iridium 70 1998-032A 17.05.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 72, 73, 74, 75
Iridium 71 1998-026B 02.05.1998 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 69
Iridium 72 1998-032B 17.05.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 70, 73, 74, 75
Iridium 73 1998-032C 17.05.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 70, 72, 74, 75
Iridium 74 1998-032D 17.05.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 70, 72, 73, 75
Iridium 75 1998-032E 17.05.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 70, 72, 73, 74
Iridium 76 1998-048B 19.08.1998 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 78
Iridium 77 1998-051E 08.09.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 79, 80, 81, 82
Iridium 78 (Iridium 3) 1998-048A 19.08.1998 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 76
Iridium 79 1998-051D 08.09.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 77, 80, 81, 82
Iridium 80 1998-051C 08.09.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 77, 79, 81, 82
Iridium 81 1998-051B 08.09.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 77, 79, 80, 82
Iridium 82 1998-051A 08.09.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 77, 79, 80, 81
Iridium 83 1998-066E 06.11.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 84, 85, 86, 87
Iridium 84 1998-066D 06.11.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 83, 85, 86, 87
Iridium 85 1998-066C 06.11.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 83, 84, 86, 87
Iridium 86 1998-066B 06.11.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 83, 84, 85, 87
Iridium 87 (Iridium 2) 1998-066A 06.11.1998 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 83, 84, 85, 86
Iridium 88 (Iridium 20A) 1998-074A 19.12.1998 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 89
Iridium 89 (Iridium 11A) 1998-074B 19.12.1998 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 88
Iridium 90 2002-005B 11.02.2002 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 91, 94, 95, 96
Iridium 91 2002-005A 11.02.2002 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 90, 94, 95, 96
Iridium 92 (Iridium 14A) 1999-032A 11.06.1999 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 93
Iridium 93 (Iridium 21A) 1999-032B 11.06.1999 TY LC-7 CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 92
Iridium 94 2002-005C 11.02.2002 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 90, 91, 95, 96
Iridium 95 2002-005D 11.02.2002 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 90, 91, 94, 96
Iridium 96 2002-005E 11.02.2002 Va SLC-2W Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 90, 91, 94, 95
Iridium 97 2002-031A 20.06.2002 Pl LC-133/3 Rokot-KM with Iridium 98
Iridium 98 2002-031B 20.06.2002 Pl LC-133/3 Rokot-KM with Iridium 97
Further Iridium missions:

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