Iridium [Lockheed Martin]
Official name IRIDIUM 97
Alternative name Iridium 97
Cospar ID 2002-031A
Norad ID 27450
Launch date 2002-06-20
Launch site PKMTR
Launch vehicle Rokot-KM
Country/Organization USA
Type application Communication
Operator Iridium LCC
RCS size LARGE
Decay date 2019-12-27
Shape Box + 2 Pan
Mass (kg) 655
Height (m) 4.06
Width (m) 1
Depth (m) 8.37
Span (m^2) 8.37
Lifetime 8 years
Contractors Motorola (Prime), Lockheed Martin (Bus)
Equipment ?
Propulsion ?
Configuration LM-700A
Power 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

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.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
IRIDIUM 8 1997-020A 1997-05-05 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 04, 05, 06, 07
IRIDIUM 7 1997-020B 1997-05-05 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 04, 05, 06, 08
IRIDIUM 6 1997-020C 1997-05-05 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 04, 05, 07, 08
IRIDIUM 5 1997-020D 1997-05-05 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 04, 06, 07, 08
IRIDIUM 4 1997-020E 1997-05-05 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 05, 06, 07, 08
IRIDIUM 914 1997-030A 1997-06-18 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16
IRIDIUM 12 1997-030B 1997-06-18 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16
IRIDIUM 09 1997-030C 1997-06-18 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16
IRIDIUM 10 1997-030D 1997-06-18 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16
IRIDIUM 13 1997-030E 1997-06-18 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16
IRIDIUM 16 1997-030F 1997-06-18 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
IRIDIUM 911 1997-030G 1997-06-18 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16
IRIDIUM 15 1997-034A 1997-07-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 17, 18, 20, 21
IRIDIUM 17 1997-034B 1997-07-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 15, 18, 20, 21
IRIDIUM 920 1997-034C 1997-07-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 15, 17, 18, 21
IRIDIUM 18 1997-034D 1997-07-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 15, 17, 20, 21
IRIDIUM 921 1997-034E 1997-07-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 15, 17, 18, 20
IRIDIUM 26 1997-043A 1997-08-21 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 22, 23, 24, 25
IRIDIUM 25 1997-043B 1997-08-21 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 22, 23, 24, 26
IRIDIUM 46 1997-043C 1997-08-21 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 22, 23, 25, 26
IRIDIUM 23 1997-043D 1997-08-21 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 22, 24, 25, 26
IRIDIUM 22 1997-043E 1997-08-21 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 23, 24, 25, 26
IRIDIUM 29 1997-051A 1997-09-14 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33
IRIDIUM 32 1997-051B 1997-09-14 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33
IRIDIUM 33 1997-051C 1997-09-14 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 / destroyed in collision with Kosmos 2251
IRIDIUM 27 1997-051D 1997-09-14 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33
IRIDIUM 28 1997-051E 1997-09-14 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33
IRIDIUM 30 1997-051F 1997-09-14 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33
IRIDIUM 31 1997-051G 1997-09-14 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33
IRIDIUM 19 1997-056A 1997-09-27 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 34, 35, 36, 37
IRIDIUM 35 1997-056B 1997-09-27 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 19, 34, 36, 37
IRIDIUM 36 1997-056C 1997-09-27 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 19, 34, 35, 37
IRIDIUM 37 1997-056D 1997-09-27 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 19, 34, 35, 36
IRIDIUM 34 1997-056E 1997-09-27 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 19, 35, 36, 37
IRIDIUM 43 1997-069A 1997-11-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 38, 39, 40, 41
IRIDIUM 41 1997-069B 1997-11-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 38, 39, 40, 43
IRIDIUM 40 1997-069C 1997-11-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 38, 39, 41, 43
IRIDIUM 39 1997-069D 1997-11-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 38, 40, 41, 43
IRIDIUM 38 1997-069E 1997-11-09 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 39, 40, 41, 43
IRIDIUM 42 1997-077A 1997-12-08 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 44
IRIDIUM 44 1997-077B 1997-12-08 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 42
IRIDIUM 45 1997-082A 1997-12-20 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 46, 47, 48, 49
IRIDIUM 24 1997-082B 1997-12-20 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 45, 47, 48, 49
IRIDIUM 47 1997-082C 1997-12-20 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 45, 46, 48, 49
IRIDIUM 48 1997-082D 1997-12-20 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 45, 46, 47, 49
IRIDIUM 49 1997-082E 1997-12-20 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 45, 46, 47, 48
IRIDIUM 52 1998-010A 1998-02-18 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 50, 53, 54, 56
IRIDIUM 56 1998-010B 1998-02-18 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 50, 52, 53, 54
IRIDIUM 54 1998-010C 1998-02-18 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 50, 52, 53, 54
IRIDIUM 50 1998-010D 1998-02-18 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 52, 53, 54, 56
IRIDIUM 53 1998-010E 1998-02-18 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 50, 52, 54, 56
IRIDIUM 51 1998-018A 1998-03-25 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 61
IRIDIUM 61 1998-018B 1998-03-25 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 51
IRIDIUM 55 1998-019A 1998-03-30 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 57, 58, 59, 60
IRIDIUM 57 1998-019B 1998-03-30 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 55, 58, 59, 60
IRIDIUM 58 1998-019C 1998-03-30 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 55, 57, 59, 60
IRIDIUM 59 1998-019D 1998-03-30 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 55, 57, 58, 60
IRIDIUM 60 1998-019E 1998-03-30 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 55, 57, 58, 59
IRIDIUM 62 1998-021A 1998-04-07 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68
IRIDIUM 63 1998-021B 1998-04-07 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68
IRIDIUM 64 1998-021C 1998-04-07 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68
IRIDIUM 65 1998-021D 1998-04-07 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68
IRIDIUM 66 1998-021E 1998-04-07 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68
IRIDIUM 67 1998-021F 1998-04-07 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68
IRIDIUM 68 1998-021G 1998-04-07 TTMTR Proton-K Blok-DM2 with Iridium 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
IRIDIUM 69 1998-026A 1998-05-02 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 71
IRIDIUM 71 1998-026B 1998-05-02 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 69
IRIDIUM 70 1998-032A 1998-05-17 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 72, 73, 74, 75
IRIDIUM 72 1998-032B 1998-05-17 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 70, 73, 74, 75
IRIDIUM 73 1998-032C 1998-05-17 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 70, 72, 74, 75
IRIDIUM 74 1998-032D 1998-05-17 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 70, 72, 73, 75
IRIDIUM 75 1998-032E 1998-05-17 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 70, 72, 73, 74
IRIDIUM 03 1998-048A 1998-08-19 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 76
IRIDIUM 76 1998-048B 1998-08-19 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 78
IRIDIUM 82 1998-051A 1998-09-08 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 77, 79, 80, 81
IRIDIUM 81 1998-051B 1998-09-08 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 77, 79, 80, 82
IRIDIUM 80 1998-051C 1998-09-08 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 77, 79, 81, 82
IRIDIUM 79 1998-051D 1998-09-08 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 77, 80, 81, 82
IRIDIUM 77 1998-051E 1998-09-08 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 79, 80, 81, 82
IRIDIUM 2 1998-066A 1998-11-06 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 83, 84, 85, 86
IRIDIUM 86 1998-066B 1998-11-06 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 83, 84, 85, 87
IRIDIUM 85 1998-066C 1998-11-06 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 83, 84, 86, 87
IRIDIUM 84 1998-066D 1998-11-06 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 83, 85, 86, 87
IRIDIUM 83 1998-066E 1998-11-06 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 84, 85, 86, 87
IRIDIUM 20 1998-074A 1998-12-19 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 89
IRIDIUM 11 1998-074B 1998-12-19 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 88
IRIDIUM 14 1999-032A 1999-06-11 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 93
IRIDIUM 21 1999-032B 1999-06-11 TSC CZ-2C (2) SD with Iridium 92
IRIDIUM 91 2002-005A 2002-02-11 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 90, 94, 95, 96
IRIDIUM 90 2002-005B 2002-02-11 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 91, 94, 95, 96
IRIDIUM 94 2002-005C 2002-02-11 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 90, 91, 95, 96
IRIDIUM 95 2002-005D 2002-02-11 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 90, 91, 94, 96
IRIDIUM 96 2002-005E 2002-02-11 AFWTR Delta-7920-10C with Iridium 90, 91, 94, 95
IRIDIUM 97 2002-031A 2002-06-20 PKMTR Rokot-KM with Iridium 98
IRIDIUM 98 2002-031B 2002-06-20 PKMTR Rokot-KM with Iridium 97