Key statistics
Satellite IRIDIUM 17 at a glance.
Uptime
10384
Days in orbit
Revolutions
≈ 14.4
Per day
Orbit
LEO
Low Earth Orbit
Inclination
86.4
Latest
Satellite identification and parameters
Extended collection of information and parameters for IRIDIUM 17.
Object identification
Identified? True
Debris? False
Object name: IRIDIUM 17
International designator: 1997-034B
Object number (NORAD): 24870
Object ID (CCSDS): 24870
Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)
Current information (Y/N): Y
RCS size: LARGE
Orbital parameters
Period: 100.138 minutes
Inclination: 86.397 deg
SMA: 7143.177 km
Apoapsis: 767.27 km
Periapsis: 762.813 km
RAAN: 160.0551 deg
Eccentricy: 0.000312
Argument of periapsis: 117.5774 deg
Mean anomaly: 242.5741 deg
Mean motion: 14.38022488 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): 0.00000747 rev/day2
B* drag term: 0.00024037 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: Dec. 12, 2025, 7:16 a.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: Dec. 11, 2025, 11:33 p.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 IRIDIUM 17
TLE line 1: 1 24870U 97034B 25345.98178786 .00000747 00000-0 24037-3 0 9994
TLE line 2: 2 24870 86.3970 160.0551 0003120 117.5774 242.5741 14.38022488489132
Live tracking on map
Real-time ground track for satellite IRIDIUM 17.
In-orbit conjunctions
A list of the most updated potential collisions computed for object IRIDIUM 17.
Associated space 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.
IRIDIUM 17 was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Delta II | Iridium 15’, on board a Delta II space rocket.
The launch took place on July 9, 1997, 1:04 p.m. from Space Launch Complex 2W.
For more information about the launch, click the button.
Delta II | Iridium 15
Agency: N/A
Status: Launch Successful
Launch date: July 9, 1997, 1:04 p.m. UTC
Rocket: Delta II
Launch pad: Space Launch Complex 2W
Location: Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
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