Iridium · Communications
IRIDIUM 16
NonoperationalCommunicationsLEO
IRIDIUM 16 is a Iridium Communications communications satellite, part of the Iridium constellation, launched on June 18, 1997 into LEO.
Loading…
Launch
- Launch date
- June 18, 1997 at 02:02 PM UTC
- Launch site
- Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
- Launched by
- Proton-K/17S40 →
- Operator
- Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
- Mission
- Iridium 09 to 14 & Iridium 16
- Launch record
- View full launch →
Orbit
- Orbit regime
- LEO
- Apoapsis
- 763 km
- Periapsis
- 760 km
- Inclination
- 86.4°
- Orbital period
- 100.07 min
Spacecraft
- Operator
- Iridium Communications
- Manufacturer
- Thales Alenia Space
- Users
- Commercial
- Launch mass
- 662 kg
- Design lifetime
- 15 years
- Detailed purpose
- Voice & data communications
Identity
- COSPAR (Int'l)
- 1997-030F
- NORAD catalog №
- 24841
- Object type
- Payload
- Owner / operator
United States- Constellation
- Iridium
- Radar cross-section
- 3.6704 m²
- Status
- Nonoperational
End of mission
- Fate
- No longer operational — remains in orbit as inactive.
- Final status
- Nonoperational
Related news
Iridium folds Aireon aviation safety service into Rocket Lab-bound business
SpaceNews · 1mo ago
In a bold move, Rocket Lab acquires Iridium Communications
Arstechnica · 1mo ago
Beck: Iridium acquisition the “logical next step” for Rocket Lab
SpaceNews · 1mo ago
Rocket Lab to acquire Iridium
SpaceNews · 1mo ago
Finding solutions to jamming and spoofing
SpaceNews · 1mo ago
Iridium wins five year US Space Force contract to upgrade EMSS infrastructure
SpaceDaily · 8mo ago
Iridium unveils chip to bring GPS protection to mass-market devices
SpaceNews · 9mo ago
Iridium shields supply chain as higher tariffs loom
SpaceNews · 1y ago
Iridium exploring small satellites to advance PNT capabilities
SpaceNews · 1y ago
Iridium approved to work on LEO compatibility for upcoming smartphones
SpaceNews · 1y ago
OneWeb launches alternative navigation service amid GPS vulnerability concerns
SpaceNews · 1y ago
Suzi McBride, Iridium – Leading Women in Space
SpaceNews · 1y ago