Key statistics
Satellite IRIDIUM 33 at a glance.
Uptime
10212
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: 100.353 minutes
Inclination: 86.3852 deg
SMA: 7153.437 km
Apoapsis: 780.542 km
Periapsis: 770.062 km
RAAN: 112.339 deg
Eccentricy: 0.00073249
Argument of periapsis: 183.1666 deg
Mean anomaly: 176.9485 deg
Mean motion: 14.34929773 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): 0.00000262 rev/day2
B* drag term: 0.000085161559 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: Aug. 30, 2025, 3:38 a.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: Aug. 29, 2025, 4:34 p.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 IRIDIUM 33
TLE line 1: 1 24946U 97051C 25241.69084667 .00000262 00000-0 85162-4 0 9993
TLE line 2: 2 24946 86.3852 112.3390 0007325 183.1666 176.9485 14.34929773463288
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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