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Iridium Communications

Cross-linked voice and data constellation · Official site

Data current as of 2026-07-20.

Track Iridium Communications satellites live in KeepTrack

Iridium Communications accounts for 853 cataloged objects, of which 228 are in orbit and 80 are active. 625 have reentered. The first launched in 1997, the most recent in 2023. The busiest year was 2009, with 656 added. The most common spacecraft bus is LM700.

Catalog names covered: IRID, IRIDS

228
In orbit
80
Active
853
Total launched
625
Reentered

Iridium Communications satellites launched per year

200 400 600 800 1997: 47 launched, 27 since reentered 1998: 45 launched, 39 since reentered 1999: 2 launched, 2 since reentered 2000: 0 objects launched 2001: 0 objects launched 2002: 7 launched, 7 since reentered 2003: 0 objects launched 2004: 0 objects launched 2005: 0 objects launched 2006: 0 objects launched 2007: 0 objects launched 2008: 0 objects launched 2009: 656 launched, 538 since reentered 2010: 0 objects launched 2011: 0 objects launched 2012: 0 objects launched 2013: 0 objects launched 2014: 16 launched, 12 since reentered 2015: 0 objects launched 2016: 0 objects launched 2017: 40 objects launched 2018: 25 objects launched 2019: 10 objects launched 2020: 0 objects launched 2021: 0 objects launched 2022: 0 objects launched 2023: 5 objects launched 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017 2022
Still in orbit Since reentered Click a year to list its satellites.

Spacecraft buses

The platforms Iridium Communications satellites are built on.

Bus Satellites
LM700 95
EliteBus 80

Registered under

US 853

Related constellations

Iridium

Iridium Communications satellites

The 100 most recently launched, of 853. 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 853 objects.

Frequently asked questions

How many satellites does Iridium Communications operate?

Iridium Communications accounts for 853 cataloged objects, of which 228 are currently in orbit. 625 have reentered.

How many Iridium Communications satellites are active?

80 Iridium Communications satellites carry an active status in the catalog.

When did Iridium Communications's first satellite launch?

The first cataloged Iridium Communications object launched in 1997, and the most recent in 2023.

What satellite buses does Iridium Communications use?

The most common spacecraft bus among cataloged Iridium Communications objects is LM700.

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Satellite data compiled by KeepTrack from CelesTrak, Space-Track, and GCAT, provided under CC BY-NC 4.0.