Sunday’s successful launch of five Iridium satellites aboard a Boeing Delta II launch vehicle completes the rollout of initial Iridium communications constellation.
At 2:22 p.m. PDT, the Delta II lifted off the pad within a five-second
window to place the satellites into coordinated orbits with satellites in six orbital planes. It was the ninth launch by a Boeing Delta II for
Motorola, prime contractor and manufacturer of the satellite for the Iridium
system.
During today’s mission, the Delta II placed the first of the five Iridium
satellites into transfer orbit one hour and two and a half minutes after lift-
off. Twenty-two and a half minutes later all five spacecraft were in transfer
orbit. Each satellite positions itself into final orbit with a self-contained
propulsion system.
“Today’s success of the Delta II launch means that we have put the entire
Iridium constellation into orbit in just 12 months,” said Dr. Edward F.
Staiano, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Iridium LLC. “We now
have more than four months to finish integrating and testing the Iridium
system before we go into commercial service as the world’s first global
wireless telephone company.”
“Motorola launched the concept of the Iridium system a decade ago, and
today, we have accomplished what many said could not be done,” said Durrell
Hillis, senior vice president and general manager of Motorola Space and
Systems Technology Group (SSTG). “We have built one of the largest digital
networks ever, and have already demonstrated the voice and paging capabilities
which we designed for the Iridium system.”
“A year ago a Delta II placed the first five Iridium satellites into
orbit, ” said Darryl Van Dorn, Boeing director of NASA and Commercial
Programs. “Now we’ve chalked up nine missions, delivering 45 satellites for
the Iridium system.”
Over the last decade the Delta II has achieved a success rate of more than
97 percent and has established itself as one of the most reliable expendable
launch vehicles in the world.
Subcontractors contributing to the Delta II launch vehicle include the
Rocketdyne Division of Boeing, Canoga Park, Calif., for the main engine;
Alliant Techsystems, Magna, Utah, graphite epoxy motors for boost assist;
Aerojet, Sacramento, Calif., second-stage engine; and Allied Signal,
Teterboro, N.J., Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly.
Previous SpaceCast Reports on Iridium
