Satellites

Iridium · Communications

IRIDIUM 66

DecayedCommunicationsLEO

IRIDIUM 66 is a Iridium Communications communications satellite, part of the Iridium constellation, launched on April 7, 1998 into LEO. It has since re-entered the atmosphere.

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Launch

Launch date
April 7, 1998 at 02:13 AM UTC
Launch site
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Operator
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Mission
Iridium 62 to 68

Orbit

Orbit regime
LEO
Apoapsis
188 km
Periapsis
125 km
Inclination
86.38°
Orbital period
87.62 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)
1998-021E
NORAD catalog №
25289
Object type
Payload
Owner / operator
United StatesUnited States
Constellation
Iridium
Radar cross-section
3.4136 m²
Status
Decayed
Decay / reentry
August 23, 2018

End of mission

Last active / ended
August 23, 2018
Time in service
20.4 years
Fate
Reentered Earth's atmosphere and was destroyed.
Final status
Decayed

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