Iridium MFS 1 & 2

First flight of the Long March 2C/SD variant, carrying two Iridium-MFS mock/demonstration satellites into polar low Earth orbit from Taiyuan to validate the dual-payload dispenser ahead of operational Iridium launches.

Outcome

Success

Orbit

LEO

Low Earth orbit

Payload to orbit

2 T (est.)

Flight

1st

of 7 Long March 2C/SD flights

Date and time

1 September 1997, 14:00 UTC

Rocket

Long March 2C/SD

Builder

CASC

Launch site

Launch Complex 7, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Payload

Test Flight

International designator

1997-048

Launches in 1997

50th of 89

See it in orbit

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