Launch Overview
Vehicle
Proton-K/17S40
Agency
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Site / Pad
GIK-5 / LC81/23
Outcome
Success
Flight
391-02
COSPAR Designator
1998-021
Mission
Iridium 62 to 68 (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.
Vehicle & Provider
Rocket
Proton-K/17S40
Provider
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Agency launches
52 (1 YTD)
Site launches
1106 (4 YTD)
Pad launches
78 (1 YTD)