IRIDIUM 33
NORAD 24946
Payload
LEO
1997-051C
● Active
CONNECTING…
LEO · NORAD 24946
NOW PASSING OVER
Calculating position…
—
Altitude (km)
—
Speed (km/s)
—
Latitude
—
Longitude
Real-time tracking powered by Orbital Radar
🛰️ Orbital Parameters
Perigee
771 km
Apogee
779 km
Inclination
86.4°
Period
100.3 min
Mean Motion
14.35106474 rev/day
TLE Epoch
2026-03-17 21:00:00 UTC
📐 Computed Orbital Characteristics
Avg. Altitude775 km
Orbital Velocity26,887 km/h
Velocity7.47 km/s
Orbital Period100 minutes
Orbits / Day14.35
Eccentricity0.0006
Semi-Major Axis7,146 km
Est. Orbital Lifetime~25–100 years
🚀 Launch & Identity
Country / Operator
🇺🇸 United States
Launch Date
1997-09-14
Launch Site
Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Int'l Designator
1997-051C
Object Type
Payload
RCS Size
Large (>1 m²)
📖 About This Object
IRIDIUM 33 is an active satellite operated by United States, launched on 1997-09-14 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. With over 29 years in orbit, it has far exceeded many satellites’ design lifetimes. It orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 771 km and 779 km with an inclination of 86.4°. It travels at approximately 26,887 km/h (7.47 km/s), completing one full orbit every 100 minutes — that’s roughly 14.35 orbits per day. Its near-circular orbit (eccentricity close to zero) means it maintains a very consistent altitude throughout each revolution. At its current altitude, the estimated orbital lifetime before atmospheric re-entry is ~25–100 years. Orbital Radar tracks IRIDIUM 33 in real time using the latest two-line element set (TLE) data, providing live position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated continuously.
🌍 Orbit Context
IRIDIUM 33 occupies the mid-LEO band between 600 and 1,000 km, where atmospheric drag is minimal but radiation exposure remains low. This altitude range balances orbital longevity (decades to centuries) with reasonable ground coverage, making it popular for remote sensing constellations, scientific instruments and weather satellites. Debris concerns are significant here because objects persist far longer than in lower orbits.
🔗 Iridium NEXT Constellation
This satellite is part of the Iridium NEXT constellation, a fleet of 66 operational cross-linked LEO satellites (plus spares) providing global voice, data and IoT connectivity. Iridium operates at approximately 780 km altitude across six polar orbital planes, ensuring coverage over the entire Earth surface including oceans and polar regions. The second-generation NEXT satellites replaced the original constellation between 2017–2019 and support Iridium Certus broadband and the Aireon ADS-B aircraft tracking payload.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
IRIDIUM 33 orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 771 km (perigee) and 779 km (apogee), with an average altitude of approximately 775 km. It completes one orbit every 100 minutes, travelling at approximately 26,887 km/h (16,707 mph).
IRIDIUM 33 is operated by United States. It is catalogued by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network under NORAD ID 24946. You can track IRIDIUM 33 in real time on Orbital Radar’s live tracker.
IRIDIUM 33 was launched on 1997-09-14 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the world’s first and largest operational space launch facility, located in Kazakhstan. At its current altitude, the estimated remaining orbital lifetime is: ~25–100 years.
Yes — Orbital Radar tracks IRIDIUM 33 (NORAD ID 24946) using the latest TLE (two-line element set) data from Space-Track and CelesTrak. Open the live tracker to see its current position, altitude, speed and orbital path updated in real time.
IRIDIUM 33 travels at approximately 26,887 km/h (16,707 mph) — roughly 7.47 km/s. It completes 14.35 orbits per day, meaning the crew or instruments aboard (if any) would experience approximately 29 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.