Success
Iridium 27 to 33
Communications
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center(KhSC)Government
Proton-K/17S40
LEOorbit
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.
Sunday, September 14, 1997 at 1:36 AM
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#4,171
KhSC Mission
#48
Pad Launch
#75
Location Launch
#1,096
Designator
1997-051
Launch Window
NET
Sep 14, 1997, 1:36 AM
Schedule Changes
1 update
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is a spaceport operated by Russia within Kazakhstan. Located in the Kazakh city of Baikonur, it is the largest operational space launch facility in terms of area. All Russian crewed spaceflights are launched from Baikonur.
Timezone
Asia/Qyzylorda
Local Launch Time
Sep 14, 1997, 7:36 AM
Total Launches
1,563
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
45.9650, 63.3050
Proton-K/17S40 Specs
The Proton-K was a Russian, previously Soviet, carrier rocket derived from the earlier Proton. It was built by Khrunichev, and launched from sites 81 and 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Length
59 m
Diameter
4.15 m
Launch Mass
708 t
Thrust
8,847 kN
LEO Capacity
6,000 kg
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
1997
Fastest Turnaround
11d 21h
Total Launches
6
Successful
6
Failed
0
Consecutive Success
6
Maiden flight: Jun 6, 1997
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
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.
Founded
1916
Administrator
Director: Andrey Vladimirovich Kalinovskiy
Total Launches
193
Successful
178
Failed
15
Pending
0
Consecutive Success
4