Aeromoe's Version of Joe Orman's Naked-Eye 100 List


Number 96: Iridium Satellite / Flares - Another Table



Viewing and Satellite prediction data courtesy of the Heavens Above website.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is for entertainment purposes only. The data is extracted from unofficial sources (mostly from the weblinks below) and should not be mistaken as the official status of the Iridium satellite constellation.




Iridium Launch Dates Iridium Launch Chronology Iridium Constellation Status Iridium Failures Iridium Flare Info and Photos
Iridium Flare Info Real Time Satellite Tracking Jonathan's Space Report Real Time Satellite Tracking Heavens Above




The Iridium Satellite Constellation

Six distinct (count them) orbital "Planes" make up the active Iridium constellation. Each plane has 11 operational satellites and the entire constellation provides coverage to virtually the entire surface of the globe. The spare satellites orbit slightly lower than the operational satellites.

During my research I've learned some interesting things about these satellites. There have been a number of failures in orbit, several satellites have been redesignated, there exist some minor discrepancies between online satellite prediction services, and of course the February 2009 collision of Iridium 33 and Russian satellite Cosmos 2251. I encourage you to check out the weblinks for some interesting reading about the status of the satellites.

Below is a tabular log of Iridium Satellites launched with details of when I've viewed them. I've tried to compile the data as accurately as possible from several online sources, but this webpage exists solely for entertainment purposes and does not indicate any official status of the Iridium satellite constellation.
Viewing details are those as predicted on the Heavens Above website.

The "Real Time Satellite Tracking" weblink is a very helpful page with a lot of great features. In fact, I used it just tonight (23 Jan 11) to confirm the second Iridium was #51 I saw flare parallel to and simultaneously with Iridium 8.


Cal Sky Heavens Above

As of 28 July 2011, number of different Iridium satellites observed: 90

Seen? IRIDIUM # / ID# NOTES DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE
-
 1 Not Launched . . . . . . . . . .
-
 2 Not Launched . . . . . . . . . .
-
 3 Not Launched . . . . . . . . . .
X
 2 / 25527 Plane 5, tumbling and drifting 16 Jun 11 18 Jun 11 19 Jun 11 . . . . . . .
X
 03 / 25431 Plane 2; Redesignated from Iridium 78 10 Dec 10 17 May 11 24 May 11 28 Jun 11 21 Dec 11 28 Dec 11 04 Jan 12 12 Apr 12 . .
X
 4 / 24796 Plane 4 13 Jan 11 15 Jan 11 09 Feb 11 19 Jun 11 27 Jun 11 09 Oct 11 28 Jan 12 16 Feb 12 . .
X
 5 / 25795 Plane 4 28 Jan 11 . . . . . . . . .
X
 6 / 24794 Plane 4 08 Feb 11 03 Jul 11 08 Oct 11 14 Oct 11 27 Jan 12 . . . . .
X
 7 / 24793 Plane 4 03 Sep 10 20 Sep 10 09 Jan 11 25 Jan 11 27 Jan 12 . . . . .
X
 8 / 24792 Plane 4 23 Jan 11 29 Jan 11 28 Jan 12 . . . . . . .
-
 9 / 24838 Reentered 11 Mar 03 . . . . . . . . . .
X
 10 / 24839 Plane 5 23 Jul 11 27 Jul 11 31 Oct 11 . . . . . . .
-
 11 (1) / 24842 Redesignated 911; replaced with one below . . . . . . . . . .
X
 11 (2) / 25578* Plane 2; Used to be in H.A. database as Iridium 20; correct now 14 Dec 10 17 Jun 11 08 Sep 11 22 May 12 . . . . . .
X
 12 / 24837 Plane 5 09 Mar 11 27 May 11 19 Oct 11 . . . . . . .
X
 13 / 24840 Plane 5 13 Feb 11 28 Jul 11 15 Nov 11 . . . . . . .
-
 14 (1) / 24836 Redesignated 914: Replaced with one below . . . . . . . . . .
X
 14 (2) / 25777 Plane 1; Spare 22 Nov 10 19 Mar 11 23 Mar 12 14 May 12 16 May 12 . . . . .
X
 15 / 24869 Plane 6 16 Jul 10 17 Jun 11 20 Jun 11 23 Jun 11 27 Jun 11 28 Jun 11 . . . .
X
 16 / 24841 Plane 5, tumbling 27 Jul 11 . . . . . . . . .
X
 17 / 24870 Failed; still in Plane 6; replaced with #77 16 Jun 11 18 Jun 11 19 Jun 11 . . . . . . .
X
 18 / 24872 Plane 6 14 Jul 10 15 Jun 11 25 Jun 11 05 Aug 11 . . . . . .
X
 19 / 24965 Plane 4 01 Sep 10 14 Jan 11 21 Jun 11 28 Jun 11 . . . . . .
-
 20 (1) / 24871 Redesignated 920: Replaced with one below . . . . . . . . . .
X
 20 (2) / 25577* Plane 2; Tracked in H.A. database as Iridium 11 27 Jun 11 . . . . . . . . .
-
 21 (1) / 24873 Redesignated 921; Replaced with one below , . . . . . . . . .
X
 21 (2) / 25778 Plane 1 16 Nov 10 17 Jun 11 25 Jun 11 28 Nov 11 10 Dec 11 . . . . .
X
 22 / 24907 Plane 2 30 Nov 10 28 Jun 11 24 Dec 11 10 Jan 12 . . . . . .
X
 23 / 24906 Failed but still in Plane 2 17 Jun 11 22 May 12 23 May 12 . . . . . . .
X
 24 / 25105* Failed, tumbling in Plane 2; Swapped designation w/46 (was 24905) 16 Jul 11 . . . . . . . . .
X
 25 / 24904 Plane 2 01 Dec 10 10 Dec 10 26 Jun 11 06 Sep 11 25 Dec 11 . . . . .
X
 26 / 24903 Plane 2 16 Jun 11 25 Jun 11 04 Jul 11 . . . . . . .
-
 27 / 24947 Reentered 1 Feb 02 . . . . . . . . . .
X
 28 / 24948 Plane 3; failed July 08 - replaced with in-orbit spare #95 15 Jun 11 . . . . . . . . .
X
 29 / 24944 Plane 3 04 Jan 11 27 Apr 11 18 Jun 11 . . . . . . .
X
 30 / 24949 Plane 3 07 Jan 11 14 Jan 11 24 Apr 11 20 Jul 11 . . . . . .
X
 31 / 24950 Plane 3 12 Sep 10 31 May 11 15 Jun 11 08 Jul 11 20 Jul 11 28 Jan 12 27 Apr 12 . . .
X
 32 / 24945 Plane 3 18 Jun 11 04 Oct 11 01 Feb 12 . . . . . . .
X
 33 / 24946 Collided w/ Kosmos 2251 10 Feb 09 UTC 15 Jun 11 . . . . . . . . .
X
 34 / 24969 Plane 4 27 Jan 11 28 Jun 11 . . . . . . . .
X
 35 / 24966 Plane 4 18 Jan 11 07 Feb 11 09 Jul 11 21 Feb 12 . . . . . .
X
 36 / 24967 Plane 4, Failed but tumbling 07 Oct 10 . . . . . . . . .
X
 37 / 24968 Plane 4 26 Jan 11 31 Jan 12 06 Feb 12 . . . . . . .
X
 38 / 25043 Plane 6, tumbling; Replaced by #82 16 Jun 11 18 Jun 11 19 Jun 11 . . . . . . .
X
 39 / 25042 Plane 6 22 Feb 11 16 Jun 11 19 Jun 11 . . . . . . .
X
 40 / 25041 Plane 6 28 Oct 10 25 Jun 11 24 Mar 12 27 Apr 12 . . . . . .
X
 41 / 25040 Plane 6 19 Nov 10 18 Jun 11 24 Jun 11 13 Nov 11 22 Nov 11 . . . . .
X
 42 / 25077 Plane 6 22 Jun 11 25 Jun 11 27 Jun 11 28 Jun 11 23 Nov 11 . . . . .
X
 43 / 25039 Plane 6 14 Jul 10 21 Jul 10 18 Jun 11 24 Jun 11 25 Jun 11 15 Aug 11 16 Mar 12 23 Mar 12 . .
X
 44 / 25078 Plane 6, tumbling 18 Jun 11 19 Jun 11 . . . . . . . .
X
 45 / 25104 Plane 2 15 Dec 10 27 Dec 10 26 Jun 11 24 May 12 . . . . . .
X
 46 / 24905* Plane 2; Swapped designation w/24 (was 25105) 28 Mar 11 05 May 11 12 May 11 13 Jul 11 24 May 12 . . . . .
X
 47 / 25106 Plane 2 11 Dec 10 08 Apr 11 15 Jun 11 13 Jul 11 07 Sep 11 31 May 12 . . . .
-
 48 / 25107 Reentered 5 May 01 . . . . . . . . . .
X
 49 / 25108 Plane 2 24 Aug 10 06 May 11 13 May 11 24 Jun 11 27 Jun 11 14 Jul 11 09 Jan 12 22 May 12 . .
X
 50 / 25172 Plane 5 07 Feb 11 14 Feb 11 06 Jun 11 22 Jul 11 16 Nov 11 . . . . .
X
 51 / 25262 Plane 4 Spare; Partial failure -spotted next to #8 23 Jan 11 28 Jun 11 . . . . . . . .
X
 52 / 25169 Plane 5 22 Jul 11 30 Oct 11 16 Feb 12 . . . . . . .
X
 53 / 25173 Plane 5 08 Feb 11 07 Jun 11 23 Jul 11 28 Oct 11 16 Nov 11 . . . . .
X
 54 / 25171 Plane 5 01 Oct 10 02 Feb 11 22 Feb 11 30 May 11 23 Jul 11 23 Feb 12 . . . .
X
 55 / 25272 Plane 3 18 Sep 10 19 Apr 11 31 May 11 14 Jun 11 19 Jul 11 04 May 12 . . . .
X
 56 / 25170 Plane 5 03 Oct 10 17 Oct 11 . . . . . . . .
X
 57 / 25273 Plane 3 15 Jan 11 25 Apr 11 09 Jul 11 12 Oct 11 . . . . . .
X
 58 / 25274 Plane 3 17 Sep 10 30 Dec 10 06 Jun 11 13 Jun 11 09 Jul 11 14 Aug 11 05 Oct 11 12 Oct 11 . .
X
 59 / 25275 Plane 3 05 Jan 11 . . . . . . . . .
X
 60 / 25276 Plane 3 26 Apr 11 22 Jul 11 20 Jan 12 . . . . . . .
X
 61 / 25263 Plane 4 06 Feb 11 08 Jul 11 . . . . . . . .
X
 62 / 25285 Plane 1 23 Nov 10 05 Jun 11 17 Aug 11 25 Nov 11 01 Dec 11 . . . . .
X
 63 / 25286 Plane 1 21 Nov 10 04 Mar 11 21 Apr 11 28 Jun 11 14 May 12 17 May 12 . . . .
X
 64 / 25287 Plane 1 09 Jun 11 19 Jun 11 14 May 12 . . . . . . .
X
 65 / 25288 Plane 1 24 Nov 10 01 Dec 10 06 Jun 11 18 Aug 11 22 Nov 11 02 Dec 11 . . . .
X
 66 / 25289 Plane 1 03 Aug 10 10 Aug 10 05 Mar 11 01 Apr 11 15 Apr 11 03 Jun 11 23 Jun 11 09 Dec 11 . .
X
 67 / 25290 Plane 1 13 Jun 11 15 Aug 11 27 Nov 11 15 May 12 . . . . . .
X
 68 / 25291 Plane 1 02 Dec 10 16 Mar 11 10 Jun 11 27 Jun 11 04 Jul 11 11 Jul 11 19 Aug 11 24 Aug 11 30 Apr 12 15 May 12
X
 69 / 25319 Failed, tumbling in Plane 2 16 Jul 11 . . . . . . . . .
X
 70 / 25342 Plane 1 08 Jun 11 18 Jun 11 28 Jun 11 . . . . . . .
X
 71 / 25320 Failed, tumbling in Plane 2 16 Jul 11 . . . . . . . . .
X
 72 / 25343 Plane 1; Last of originals and spares 22 Nov 10 14 Jun 11 16 Aug 11 24 Nov 11 30 Nov 11 23 Apr 12 16 May 12 . . .
X
 73 / 25344 Failed, tumbling in Plane 1 18 Jun 11 23 Jun 11 . . . . . . . .
X
 74 / 25345 Plane 1; Lower orbit - no flares predicted 23 Jun 11 16 Aug 11 19 Aug 11 . . . . . . .
X
 75 / 25346 Plane 1 10 Mar 11 17 Mar 11 28 Mar 11 20 Apr 11 21 Apr 11 11 Jun 11 28 Jun 11 25 Aug 11 23 Mar 12 27 Apr 12
X
 76 / 25432 Plane 2 11 Dec 10 26 Dec 10 04 May 11 11 May 11 25 May 11 22 Dec 11 29 Dec 11 05 Jan 12 . .
X
 77 / 25471 Plane 6 22 Mar 11 20 Jun 11 23 Jun 11 26 Jun 11 . . . . . .
-
 78 / 25431 Redesignated Iridium 03 . . . . . . . . . .
-
 79 / 25470 Plane 6; De-orbited 29 Nov 00 . . . . . . . . . .
X
 80 / 25469 Plane 6; My 1st Flare 12 Jul 10 26 Jul 10 13 Jun 11 20 Jun 11 23 Jun 11 26 Jun 11 28 Jun 11 08 Nov 11 24 Nov 11 01 Dec 11
X
 81 / 25468 Plane 6 13 Jul 10 14 Jun 11 17 Jun 11 24 JUn 11 27 Jun 11 09 Nov 11 02 Dec 11 . . .
X
 82 / 25467 Plane 6 27 Feb 11 14 Jun 11 24 Jun 11 27 Jun 11 04 Aug 11 23 Nov 11 06 Apr 12 . . .
X
 83 / 25531 Plane 5 02 Oct 10 03 Feb 11 28 Jul 11 23 Oct 11 30 Oct 11 . . . . .
X
 84 / 25530 Plane 5 04 Oct 10 29 Jan 11 26 May 11 23 Jul 11 18 Oct 11 . . . . .
-
 85 / 25529 Plane 5 Spare; Reentered 30 Dec 00 . . . . . . . . . .
X
 86 / 25528 Plane 5 Spare 28 Jul 11 13 Oct 11 . . . . . . . .
-
 88 / 25578 Spare; Redesignated Iridium 20A as replacement . . . . . . . . . .
-
 89 / 25577 Spare; Redesignated Iridium 11A as replacement . . . . . . . . . .
X
 90 / 27372* Plane 5 Spare (migrated from Plane 3); Tracked on Real Time Satellite as Iridium 91 21 Feb 11 22 Jul 11 . . . . . . . .
X
 91 / 27373* Plane 3; Tracked on Real Time Satellite as Iridium 90 21 Apr 11 04 Mar 11 12 Jun 11 09 Jul 11 . . . . . .
-
 92 / 25777 Spare; Redesignated Iridium 14A as replacement . . . . . . . . . .
-
 93 / 25778 Spare; Redesignated Iridium 21A as replacement . . . . . . . . . .
X
 94 / 27374 Plane 3 Spare 15 Sep 10 15 Jan 11 06 Jun 11 30 Aug 11 . . . . . .
X
 95 / 27375 Plane 3 06 Jan 11 23 Apr 11 16 Jul 11 24 Jan 12 04 May 12 . . . . .
X
 96 / 27376 Plane 3 Spare 19 Apr 11 24 Apr 11 14 Oct 11 28 Jan 12 27 Apr 12 . . . . .
X
 97 / 27450 Plane 4 24 Jan 11 28 Jun 11 24 Oct 11 26 Jan 12 . . . . . .
X
 98 / 27451 Plane 6; Spare (migrated from Plane 4) 14 Jun 11 27 Jun 11 . . . . . . . .
X
 911 / 24842 Plane 5, tumbling / redesignated from failed Iridium 11 20 Jul 11 27 Jul 11 . . . . . . . .
X
 914 / 24836 Plane 5, tumbling / redesignated from failed Iridium 14 20 Jul 11 . . . . . . . . .
X
 920 / 24871 Plane 6, tumbling / redesignated from failed Iridium 20 16 Jun 11 18 Jun 11 19 Jun 11 . . . . . . .
X
 921 / 24873 Plane 6, tumbling / redesignated from failed Iridium 21 20 Jul 11 . . . . . . . . .

Note: This website is maintained solely for entertainment purposes.