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Khrunichev State Research and Production Space CenterLaunch SuccessfulCommunicationsProton-K/17S40
Launched 1997-09-14 01:36:54 UTC81/23 (81L), Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Success
Reached Low Earth Orbit
Worldwide
53rd
orbital launch attempt in 1997
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
6th
launch this year
81/23 (81L)
4th
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
17 d 1 h
since the pad's previous launch
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.
Launch Provider
Government · Russia · Founded 1916 · Director Andrey Vladimirovich Kalinovskiy
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center is a Moscow-based producer of spacecraft and space-launch systems, including the Proton and Rokot rockets and is currently developing the Angara rocket family. The Proton launch vehicle launches from Baikonur and Rokot launches from Baikonur and Plesetsk. Angara will launch from Plesetsk and Vostochny.
Launches
193
Successful
178
92%
Upcoming
0
scheduled
Height
59m
Diameter
4.2m
To low Earth orbit
6,000kg
Liftoff thrust
8,847kN
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