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Long March 2C/SD | Iridium 69 & 71
China Aerospace CorporationLaunch Successful

Iridium 69 & 71

Long March 2C/SD

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Historical mission record

This page records Long March 2C/SD | Iridium 69 & 71 and its reported outcome: Launch Successful. The date above is a historical record.

Source record updated . This is a source update, not a confirmed launch time.

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Mission status
Launch Successful

Status reported by the mission data provider.

LAUNCH SITETaiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Mission

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.

Launch vehicle
Long March 2C/SD
Mission type
Communications
Destination orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Launch pad
Launch Complex 7
Provider
China Aerospace Corporation
Programs
Iridium Constellation

The vehicle

Published configuration and flight history.

Long March 2C/SD
Launch vehicle

Long March 2C/SD

The Long March 2C is a family of expendable launch vehicles made and operated by China. It is a two stage launch vehicle with storable propellants, consisting of Nitrogen Tetroxide and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine. The 2C/SD variant has an additional "Smart Dispenser" upper stage for multiple payloads.

Height
42 m
Diameter
3.35 m
Stages
3
Recorded launches
7
First flight
1997-09-01

Recorded timing

This is a mission record, not an upcoming calendar appointment.

Instantaneous windowPublished target
SCHEDULED MOMENT

A single scheduled moment. The schedule may change before launch.

Launch site & orbit

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

The mission in perspective

Launch site & orbit

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NASA Blue Marble map of Earth's continents and oceans
Representative orbit · accelerated illustrationNo live tracking or simulated ascent. NASA Blue Marble.

Coverage & sources

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