LAUNCH CENTER
Success
Sun Sep 14 1997
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Iridium 27 to 33
Launch Successful
LAUNCH PREVIEW
Launch Time
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(1:36 AM UTC)
Launch Window Start
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(1:36 AM UTC)
Launch Window End
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(1:36 AM UTC)
RECOVERY OVERVIEW
Location
No Recovery Specified
Type
No Recovery Specified
Rocket Details
Name:
Proton-K/17S40Description:
The Proton-K was a Russian, previously Soviet, carrier rocket derived from the earlier Proton. It was built by Khrunichev, and launched from sites 81 and 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
MISSION OVERVIEW
- Type: Communications
- Iridium provides global mobile telecommunications services using a constellation of 66 low earth orbit satellites in a 86.4° inclined orbit. Although 77 satellites were originally envisioned for the system and spawned the name based on the 77th element in the periodic table, the system has been scaled back. Motorola's Satellite Communications Group designed and manufactured the Iridium satellites with Lockheed Martin providing the LM-700A spacecraft buses.
COMPLEX OVERVIEW
Location
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Pad
81/23 (81L)