Key statistics
Satellite IRIDIUM 33 at a glance.
Uptime
10096
Days in orbit
Revolutions
≈ 14.3
Per day
Orbit
LEO
Low Earth Orbit
Inclination
86.4
Latest
Satellite identification and parameters
Extended collection of information and parameters for IRIDIUM 33.
Object identification
Identified? True
Debris? False
Object name: IRIDIUM 33
International designator: 1997-051C
Object number (NORAD): 24946
Object ID (CCSDS): 24946
Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)
Current information (Y/N): Y
RCS size: LARGE
Orbital parameters
Period: 100.358 minutes
Inclination: 86.3893 deg
SMA: 7153.643 km
Apoapsis: 780.357 km
Periapsis: 770.66 km
RAAN: 160.9322 deg
Eccentricy: 0.0006778
Argument of periapsis: 200.8883 deg
Mean anomaly: 159.2037 deg
Mean motion: 14.34867598 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): 0.00000397 rev/day2
B* drag term: 0.00013279 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: May 6, 2025, 3:54 a.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: May 5, 2025, 6:58 p.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 IRIDIUM 33
TLE line 1: 1 24946U 97051C 25125.79068388 .00000397 00000-0 13279-3 0 9995
TLE line 2: 2 24946 86.3893 160.9322 0006778 200.8883 159.2037 14.34867598446662
Live tracking on map
Real-time ground track for satellite IRIDIUM 33.
In-orbit conjunctions
A list of the most updated potential collisions computed for object IRIDIUM 33.
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 33 was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Proton-K/17S40 | Iridium 27 to 33’, on board a Proton-K/17S40 space rocket.
The launch took place on Sept. 14, 1997, 1:36 a.m. from 81/23 (81L).
For more information about the launch, click the button.

Proton-K/17S40 | Iridium 27 to 33
Agency: N/A
Status: Launch Successful
Launch date: Sept. 14, 1997, 1:36 a.m. UTC
Rocket: Proton-K/17S40
Launch pad: 81/23 (81L)
Location: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
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