IRIDIUM 47 is a communication satellite launched by the United States on December 20, 1997, from Vandenberg Air Force Base using a Delta 7920-10C launch vehicle. It measures 3.5 meters in length with a diameter of 1 meter and spans 5 meters when its solar arrays are deployed. The satellite has a dry mass of 556 kilograms and weighed 662 kilograms at launch. It was manufactured by MOTO/LMMS, based on the LM-700A configuration, and is part of the Iridium constellation for communication purposes. IRIDIUM 47 is equipped with two deployable solar arrays and batteries to power its operations and has a lifespan of approximately eight years. The satellite's shape consists of a box design with two panels and it carries the payload known as Iridium SV047.