Orbica
Upcoming
Timeline
Agencies
Rockets
Satellites
Track
Intel
Search
⌘K
← Satellites
Iridium · Communications
IRIDIUM 48
Decayed
Communications
LEO
Relays voice, data, internet or broadcast signals between points on Earth.
Loading…
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
Launch mass
860 kg
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
Related news
Iridium wins five year US Space Force contract to upgrade EMSS infrastructure
SpaceDaily · 6mo ago
Iridium unveils chip to bring GPS protection to mass-market devices
SpaceNews · 7mo ago
Iridium pulls $1 billion 2030 service revenue goal amid SpaceX’s D2D push
SpaceNews · 7mo 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