Delta II
SuccessIridium 70, 72 to 75 · United States Air Force
Launch time (NET)
Sunday, May 17, 1998, 21:16 UTC
Launch window
Sunday, May 17, 1998, 21:16 UTC – Sunday, May 17, 1998, 21:16 UTC
Provider
United States Air Force
Rocket
Launch pad
Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA · Open map
Status
Success
The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
Mission
Iridium 70, 72 to 75
Type
Communications
Orbit
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
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.
Go to payload page →🎬 Recent videos
No recent videos found — this row stays empty until something new appears.