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 |