Iridium
Operated by Iridium Communications · Official site
Data current as of 2026-07-20.
Iridium runs a cross-linked low Earth orbit constellation that provides voice and data coverage over the entire planet, including the poles. The current Iridium NEXT satellites replaced the original 1990s fleet and host secondary payloads for aircraft and ship tracking.
Iridium accounts for 859 cataloged objects, of which 228 are in orbit and 80 are active. 631 have reentered. The first launched in 1997, the most recent in 2023. The busiest year was 2009, with 656 added. Most fly near a 86-degree inclination with an orbital period around 100 minutes.
228
In orbit
80
Active
859
Total launched
631
Reentered
Iridium launched per year
Still in orbit Since reentered Click a year to list its satellites.
Typical specifications
Most common values across cataloged Iridium satellites.
| Manufacturer | MOTO/LMMS |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Communication |
| Launch mass | 860 kg |
| Dry mass | 556 kg |
| Length | 3.5 m |
| Diameter | 1 m |
| Span | 5 m |
| Shape | Box + 2 Pan |
| Power | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
| Propulsion | ? |
| Design life | 8 years |
| Equipment | ? |
| Typical orbit | 100 min period, 86° inclination |
Spacecraft buses
The platforms Iridium satellites are built on.
Launched on
Iridium satellites
The 100 most recently launched, of 859. Track any of them live in KeepTrack.
| Name | NORAD | COSPAR | Bus | Launched | Orbit | Status | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRIDIUM 179 Iridium Next SV179 | 56730 | 2023-068W | EliteBus | May 20, 2023 | 97 min, 86.7° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 178 Iridium Next SV178 | 56729 | 2023-068V | EliteBus | May 20, 2023 | 97 min, 86.7° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 174 Iridium Next SV174 | 56728 | 2023-068U | EliteBus | May 20, 2023 | 98 min, 86.6° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 177 Iridium Next SV177 | 56727 | 2023-068T | EliteBus | May 20, 2023 | 97 min, 86.2° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 181 Iridium Next SV181 | 56726 | 2023-068S | EliteBus | May 20, 2023 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 167 Iridium Next SV167 | 43931 | 2019-002K | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 170 Iridium Next SV170 | 43930 | 2019-002J | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 98 min, 86.6° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 171 Iridium Next SV171 | 43929 | 2019-002H | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 175 Iridium Next SV175 | 43928 | 2019-002G | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 100 min, 86.5° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 172 Iridium Next SV172 | 43927 | 2019-002F | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 169 Iridium Next SV169 | 43926 | 2019-002E | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 173 Iridium Next SV173 | 43925 | 2019-002D | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 168 Iridium Next SV168 | 43924 | 2019-002C | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 176 Iridium Next SV176 | 43923 | 2019-002B | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 98 min, 86.6° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 180 Iridium Next SV180 | 43922 | 2019-002A | EliteBus | Jan 11, 2019 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 159 Iridium Next SV159 | 43578 | 2018-061K | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 164 Iridium Next SV164 | 43577 | 2018-061J | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 156 Iridium Next SV156 | 43576 | 2018-061H | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 163 Iridium Next SV163 | 43575 | 2018-061G | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 154 Iridium Next SV154 | 43574 | 2018-061F | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 155 Iridium Next SV155 | 43573 | 2018-061E | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 165 Iridium Next SV165 | 43572 | 2018-061D | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 158 Iridium Next SV158 | 43571 | 2018-061C | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 166 Iridium Next SV166 | 43570 | 2018-061B | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 160 Iridium Next SV160 | 43569 | 2018-061A | EliteBus | Jul 25, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 162 Iridium Next SV162 | 43482 | 2018-047G | EliteBus | May 22, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 110 Iridium Next SV110 | 43481 | 2018-047F | EliteBus | May 22, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 147 Iridium Next SV147 | 43480 | 2018-047E | EliteBus | May 22, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 152 Iridium Next SV152 | 43479 | 2018-047D | EliteBus | May 22, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 161 Iridium Next SV161 | 43478 | 2018-047C | EliteBus | May 22, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 143 Iridium Next SV143 | 43258 | 2018-030K | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 150 Iridium Next SV150 | 43257 | 2018-030J | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 142 Iridium Next SV142 | 43256 | 2018-030H | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 148 Iridium Next SV148 | 43255 | 2018-030G | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 146 Iridium Next SV146 | 43254 | 2018-030F | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 145 Iridium Next SV145 | 43253 | 2018-030E | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 140 Iridium Next SV140 | 43252 | 2018-030D | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 157 Iridium Next SV157 | 43251 | 2018-030C | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 149 Iridium Next SV149 | 43250 | 2018-030B | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 144 Iridium Next SV144 | 43249 | 2018-030A | EliteBus | Mar 30, 2018 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 131 Iridium Next SV131 | 43079 | 2017-083K | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 153 Iridium Next SV153 | 43078 | 2017-083J | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 141 Iridium Next SV141 | 43077 | 2017-083H | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 137 Iridium Next SV137 | 43076 | 2017-083G | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 134 Iridium Next SV134 | 43075 | 2017-083F | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 151 Iridium Next SV151 | 43074 | 2017-083E | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 130 Iridium Next SV130 | 43073 | 2017-083D | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 116 Iridium Next SV116 | 43072 | 2017-083C | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 138 Iridium Next SV138 | 43071 | 2017-083B | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 135 Iridium Next SV135 | 43070 | 2017-083A | EliteBus | Dec 23, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 125 Iridium Next SV125 | 42964 | 2017-061K | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 139 Iridium Next SV139 | 42963 | 2017-061J | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 136 Iridium Next SV136 | 42962 | 2017-061H | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 132 Iridium Next SV132 | 42961 | 2017-061G | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 107 Iridium Next SV107 | 42960 | 2017-061F | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 119 Iridium Next SV119 | 42959 | 2017-061E | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 129 Iridium Next SV129 | 42958 | 2017-061D | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 122 Iridium Next SV122 | 42957 | 2017-061C | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 100 Iridium Next SV127 | 42956 | 2017-061B | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 133 Iridium Next SV133 | 42955 | 2017-061A | EliteBus | Oct 9, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 121 Iridium Next SV121 | 42812 | 2017-039K | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 128 Iridium Next SV128 | 42811 | 2017-039J | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 124 Iridium Next SV124 | 42810 | 2017-039H | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 126 Iridium Next SV126 | 42809 | 2017-039G | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 117 Iridium Next SV117 | 42808 | 2017-039F | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 118 Iridium Next SV118 | 42807 | 2017-039E | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 115 Iridium Next SV115 | 42806 | 2017-039D | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.5° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 120 Iridium Next SV120 | 42805 | 2017-039C | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 123 Iridium Next SV123 | 42804 | 2017-039B | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 113 Iridium Next SV113 | 42803 | 2017-039A | EliteBus | Jun 25, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 111 Iridium Next SV111 | 41926 | 2017-003K | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 112 Iridium Next SV112 | 41925 | 2017-003J | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 108 Iridium Next SV108 | 41924 | 2017-003H | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 114 Iridium Next SV114 | 41923 | 2017-003G | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 104 Iridium Next SV104 | 41922 | 2017-003F | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 105 Iridium Next SV105 | 41921 | 2017-003E | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 102 Iridium Next SV102 | 41920 | 2017-003D | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 109 Iridium Next SV109 | 41919 | 2017-003C | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 103 Iridium Next SV103 | 41918 | 2017-003B | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 106 Iridium Next SV106 | 41917 | 2017-003A | EliteBus | Jan 14, 2017 | 100 min, 86.4° | Active | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 57003 | 1997-082U | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 93 min, 86.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 57002 | 1997-082T | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 97 min, 86.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 91 DEB deb Iridium 91 | 40327 | 2002-005K | · | Nov 30, 2014 | 92 min, 86.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 91 DEB deb Iridium 91 | 40326 | 2002-005J | · | Nov 30, 2014 | 89 min, 86.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 91 DEB deb Iridium 91 | 40325 | 2002-005H | · | Nov 30, 2014 | 92 min, 86.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 91 DEB deb Iridium 91 | 40324 | 2002-005G | · | Nov 30, 2014 | 93 min, 86.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40257 | 1997-082S | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 92 min, 86.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40256 | 1997-082R | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 93 min, 86.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40255 | 1997-082Q | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 100 min, 86.3° | Inactive | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40254 | 1997-082P | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 97 min, 86.0° | Inactive | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40253 | 1997-082N | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 95 min, 86.1° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40252 | 1997-082M | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 94 min, 86.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40251 | 1997-082L | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 100 min, 86.3° | Inactive | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40250 | 1997-082K | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 93 min, 85.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40249 | 1997-082J | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 100 min, 86.4° | Inactive | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 47 DEB deb Iridium 47 | 40248 | 1997-082H | · | Jun 7, 2014 | 91 min, 85.8° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 33 DEB deb Iridium 33 | 46983 | 1997-051ACR | · | Feb 10, 2009 | 93 min, 86.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 33 DEB deb Iridium 33 | 46982 | 1997-051ACQ | · | Feb 10, 2009 | 96 min, 86.4° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 33 DEB deb Iridium 33 | 46981 | 1997-051ACP | · | Feb 10, 2009 | 100 min, 86.3° | Reentered | ◉ |
| IRIDIUM 33 DEB deb Iridium 33 | 46980 | 1997-051ACN | · | Feb 10, 2009 | 94 min, 86.3° | Inactive | ◉ |
Showing 100 of 859 objects.
Frequently asked questions
How many Iridium satellites are in orbit?
228 Iridium objects are currently in orbit, out of 859 ever cataloged. 631 have reentered.
How many Iridium satellites are active?
80 Iridium satellites carry an active status in the catalog.
When did the first Iridium satellite launch?
The first cataloged Iridium object launched in 1997, and the most recent in 2023.
Who operates Iridium?
Iridium is operated by Iridium Communications.
How can I track Iridium satellites?
You can track the Iridium fleet live in the KeepTrack 3D tracker, or open any individual satellite from the list on this page.