Iridium 33

Iridium 33 was a communications satellite launched by Russia for Iridium Communications. It was launched into low Earth orbit from Site 81/23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 01:36 UTC on 14 September 1997, by a Proton-K rocket with a Block DM2 upper stage. The launch was arranged by International Launch Services (ILS). It was operated in Plane 3 of the Iridium satellite constellation, with an ascending node of 230.9°.

Iridium 33
A mockup of an Iridium satellite
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorIridium Satellite LLC
COSPAR ID1997-051C
SATCAT no.24946
Mission duration11 years
Spacecraft properties
BusLM-700A
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
Launch mass700 kg
Start of mission
Launch date14 September 1997, 01:36 UTC
RocketProton-K / DM2
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 81/23
ContractorKhrunichev
via International Launch Services
End of mission
Destroyed10 February 2009, 16:56 UTC
Collision with Kosmos 2251
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude779.6 km
Apogee altitude799.9 km
Inclination86.4°
Period100.4 minutes
Epoch10 February 2009
 
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