Key statistics
Satellite IRIDIUM 63 at a glance.
Uptime
10112
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 63.
Object identification
Identified? True
Debris? False
Object name: IRIDIUM 63
International designator: 1998-021B
Object number (NORAD): 25286
Object ID (CCSDS): 25286
Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)
Current information (Y/N): Y
RCS size: LARGE
Orbital parameters
Period: 100.227 minutes
Inclination: 86.3984 deg
SMA: 7147.443 km
Apoapsis: 771.029 km
Periapsis: 767.588 km
RAAN: 7.4664 deg
Eccentricy: 0.0002407
Argument of periapsis: 89.3164 deg
Mean anomaly: 270.8309 deg
Mean motion: 14.36734999 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): 0.00000587 rev/day2
B* drag term: 0.00019249718 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: Dec. 12, 2025, 10:14 a.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: Dec. 12, 2025, 3:21 a.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 IRIDIUM 63
TLE line 1: 1 25286U 98021B 25346.13960580 .00000587 00000-0 19250-3 0 9995
TLE line 2: 2 25286 86.3984 7.4664 0002407 89.3164 270.8309 14.36734999449397
Live tracking on map
Real-time ground track for satellite IRIDIUM 63.
In-orbit conjunctions
A list of the most updated potential collisions computed for object IRIDIUM 63.
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 63 was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Proton-K/17S40 | Iridium 62 to 68’, on board a Proton-K/17S40 space rocket.
The launch took place on April 7, 1998, 2:13 a.m. from 81/23 (81L).
For more information about the launch, click the button.
Proton-K/17S40 | Iridium 62 to 68
Agency: N/A
Status: Launch Successful
Launch date: April 7, 1998, 2:13 a.m. UTC
Rocket: Proton-K/17S40
Launch pad: 81/23 (81L)
Location: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
...
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