Iridium Satellites |
CONSTELLATION DESCRIPTION |
| Number of Satellites |
84 (66 Active, 6 In-Orbit
Spares, 12 Failures) |
| Geometry |
| 6 planes |
Plane 1 |
12 satellites |
| Plane 2 |
15 satellites |
| Plane 3 |
12 satellites |
| Plane 4 |
12 satellites |
| Plane 5 |
16 satellites |
| Plane 6 |
17 satellites |
|
| Orbit |
LEO - 780 km (470 miles)
circular at 86.4 deg. inclination |
| Orbit Period |
100.5 minutes |
| Coverage |
Global |
| Initiation of Operations |
November 1998 |
| PAYLOAD
CAPABILITIES |
| Types of Services |
Voice and paging, (Proposed: data, fax) |
| Voice Transmission Rate (bps) |
2400 |
| (Proposed) Data Rate (bps) |
2400 |
| On-board processing |
Yes |
| Mobile downlink frequencies
(MHz) |
1610-1626.5 (L-Band) |
| Mobile uplink frequencies
(MHz) |
1616-1626.5 (L-Band) |
| Modulation |
FDMA/TDMA |
| Voice circuit capacity /
satellite |
3840 |
| CORE BUS
SPECIFICATIONS |
| Prime Contractor |
Lockheed Martin |
| Platform |
LM700 |
| Launch Mass |
725 kg (1595
lb) |
| Design Life |
5-8 years |
STRUCTURE |
| Dimensions (H x W x L) |
-- |
| Construction |
-- |
POWER SYSTEM |
| Payload Power (EOL) |
1400 W |
| Solar Arrays |
2 solar
tracking wings (single panel) |
ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM |
| Stabilization |
3-axis |
