8 December 1997, 07:16 UTC

Iridium 42 & 44

Long March 2C/SDTaiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Drawing of the Long March 2C/SD for Iridium 42 & 44

Carried Iridium 42 and Iridium 44 into low Earth orbit from Taiyuan, adding two more satellites to Motorola's Iridium global mobile satellite phone constellation.

Outcome: Success
Orbit: LEO; Low Earth orbit
Payload to orbit: 2 T
Flight: 2nd; of 7 Long March 2C/SD flights

Date and time: 8 December 1997, 07:16 UTC
Rocket: Long March 2C/SD
Builder: CASC
Launch site: Launch Complex 7, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Payload: Communications
International designator: 1997-077
Launches in 1997: 80th of 89

See it in orbit

Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.

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