Iridium · Communications
IRIDIUM 48
DecayedCommunicationsLEO
IRIDIUM 48 is a Iridium Communications communications satellite, part of the Iridium constellation, launched on December 20, 1997 into LEO. It has since re-entered the atmosphere.
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Launch
- Launch date
- December 20, 1997 at 01:16 PM UTC
- Launch site
- Vandenberg SFB, USA
- Launched by
- Delta II 7920-10C →
- Operator
- United States Air Force
- Mission
- Iridium 45 to 49
- Launch record
- View full launch →
Orbit
- Orbit regime
- LEO
- Apoapsis
- 137 km
- Periapsis
- 105 km
- Inclination
- 86.35°
- Orbital period
- 86.9 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)
- 1997-082D
- NORAD catalog №
- 25107
- Object type
- Payload
- Owner / operator
United States- Constellation
- Iridium
- Radar cross-section
- 7.8284 m²
- Status
- Decayed
- Decay / reentry
- May 5, 2001
End of mission
- Last active / ended
- May 5, 2001
- Time in service
- 3.4 years
- Fate
- Reentered Earth's atmosphere and was destroyed.
- Final status
- Decayed
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