Iridium · Communications
IRIDIUM 51
DecayedCommunicationsLEO
IRIDIUM 51 is a Iridium Communications communications satellite, part of the Iridium constellation, launched on March 25, 1998 into LEO. It has since re-entered the atmosphere.
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Launch
- Launch date
- March 25, 1998 at 05:01 PM UTC
- Launch site
- TAISC
- Launched by
- Long March 2C/SD →
- Operator
- China Aerospace Corporation
- Mission
- Iridium 51 & 61
- Launch record
- View full launch →
Orbit
- Orbit regime
- LEO
- Apoapsis
- 165 km
- Periapsis
- 149 km
- Inclination
- 86.33°
- Orbital period
- 87.63 min
Spacecraft
- Operator
- Iridium Communications
- Manufacturer
- Thales Alenia Space
- Users
- Commercial
- Launch mass
- 667 kg
- Design lifetime
- 15 years
- Detailed purpose
- Voice & data communications
Identity
- COSPAR (Int'l)
- 1998-018A
- NORAD catalog №
- 25262
- Object type
- Payload
- Owner / operator
United States- Constellation
- Iridium
- Radar cross-section
- 3.151 m²
- Status
- Decayed
- Decay / reentry
- March 14, 2026
End of mission
- Last active / ended
- March 14, 2026
- Time in service
- 28.0 years
- Fate
- Reentered Earth's atmosphere and was destroyed.
- Final status
- Decayed
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