Iridium 42 & 44
Long March 2C/SD
China Aerospace Corporation
Mission
Iridium 42 & 44
- Type: Communications
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
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.
Location
Launch Complex 7
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China
Launch Complex 7 has witnessed the launch of 32 rockets, including 32 orbital launch attempts, while Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China, has been the site for 124 rocket launches.
Rocket
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation 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.
