Iridium 33
Encyclopedia
Iridium 33 was a U.S.
Iridium communications satellite
. It was launched into low Earth orbit
from Site 81/23
at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
at 01:36 GMT on 14 September 1997, by a Proton-K
carrier rocket with a Block DM2
upper stage. It was operated in Plane 3 of the Iridium satellite constellation
, with an ascending node
of 230.9°.
satellite) and Iridium 33 collided, resulting in the destruction of both spacecraft. NASA
reported that a large amount of space debris
was produced by the collision.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Iridium communications satellite
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
. It was launched into low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
from Site 81/23
Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81
Site 81 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome is a launch site used, along with Site 200, by Proton rockets. It consists of two launch pads, areas 23 and 24. Area 24 is currently used for Proton-K and Proton-M launches, while Area 23 is currently inactive....
at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
at 01:36 GMT on 14 September 1997, by a Proton-K
Proton-K
The Proton-K, also designated Proton 8K82K after its GRAU index, 8K82K, is a Russian, previously Soviet, carrier rocket derived from the earlier Proton. It was built by Khrunichev, and is launched from sites 81 and 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan...
carrier rocket with a Block DM2
Block D
Blok D is an upper stage used on Soviet and later Russian expendable launch systems, including the N1, Proton-K and Zenit. There were plans to use it for some other rockets as well ....
upper stage. It was operated in Plane 3 of the Iridium satellite constellation
Iridium satellite constellation
The Iridium satellite constellation is a large group of satellites providing voice and data coverage to satellite phones, pagers and integrated transceivers over Earth's entire surface. Iridium Communications Inc...
, with an ascending node
Orbital node
An orbital node is one of the two points where an orbit crosses a plane of reference to which it is inclined. An orbit which is contained in the plane of reference has no nodes.-Planes of reference:...
of 230.9°.
Destruction
On 10 February 2009, at 16:56 GMT, Kosmos 2251 (a retired StrelaStrela (satellite)
Strela is a Russian military communications satellite constellation operating in low Earth orbit.-History:The first three satellites, Kosmos 38 , Kosmos 39 and Kosmos 40 , were launched on 18 August 1964...
satellite) and Iridium 33 collided, resulting in the destruction of both spacecraft. NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
reported that a large amount of space debris
Space debris
Space debris, also known as orbital debris, space junk, and space waste, is the collection of objects in orbit around Earth that were created by humans but no longer serve any useful purpose. These objects consist of everything from spent rocket stages and defunct satellites to erosion, explosion...
was produced by the collision.