Track IRIDIUM 33 Satellite in Real Time
Detailed information about IRIDIUM 33 satellite
Designator id: 1997-051C
Description of IRIDIUM 33 Satellite:
Iridium 33 was part of a planned commercial communications network comprised of a constellation of 66 LEO spacecraft. The system will use L-Band to provide global communications services through portable handsets. A total of 125 spacecraft will be built by Lockheed for more than $700M. Commercial service is planned to begin in 1998. The system will employ 15-20 ground stations with a master control complex in Landsdowne, VA, a backup in Italy, and a third engineering center in Chandler, AZ. The spacecraft was 3-axis stabilized, with a hydrazine propulsion system. It had 2 solar panels with 1-axis articulation. The system employed L-Band using FDMA/TDMA to provide voice at 4.8 kbps and data at 2400 bps with 16 dB margin. Each satellite had 48 spot beams for Earth coverage and used Ka-Band for crosslinks and ground commanding.
On 10 February 2009 at approximately 16:56 UT the Iridium 33 satellite collided with Cosmos 2251 (1993-036A). The collision took place at about 800 km altitude.
1 24946U 97051C 12339.30936649 .00000227 00000-0 76241-4 0 2162 2 24946 086.3871 259.3579 0005921 226.0514 134.0191 14.32839823796865