Communications
IRIDIUM 138
Global Mobile Satellite Network (Iridium NEXT) · Iridium Communications
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Part of the Iridium NEXT constellation, one of the final satellites to complete the eight-launch replacement campaign that modernized Iridium's aging original fleet. This satellite continues supporting the mesh network architecture that lets Iridium relay communications satellite-to-satellite across the globe without requiring dense ground station infrastructure.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 485–487 mi (780–783 km)
- Inclination
- 86.4°
- One orbit
- 100.3 minutes14.4 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 43071
- Int’l designator
- 2017-083B
- Launched
- 2017
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
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