CASC Long March 2C/SD Iridium 76 & 78
Long March 2C/SD
Status
Success
Date
19 AUG 1998
23:01
Launch Provider
China Aerospace Corporation
Launch Pad
Launch Complex 7
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Mission Overview
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.
Rocket
Long March 2C/SD
Mission Type
Communications
Orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Stages
3
Livestream
Not availableRocket Details
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
Launch Mass
192 T
Thrust
2,786 kN