# Iridium 23

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q111498583](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111498583)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/iridium-23

## Summary
Iridium 23 is a retired communications satellite and part of the Iridium satellite constellation, which provides global voice and data coverage. Launched in 1997 aboard a Delta II rocket, it operated until its atmospheric reentry in 2018. The satellite played a role in maintaining the Iridium network's worldwide connectivity.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: August 21, 1997
- **Launch Vehicle**: Delta II
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West
- **COSPAR ID**: 1997-043D
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 24906
- **Aliases**: Iridium SV023
- **Decommissioning**: Atmospherically reentered on March 28, 2018
- **Constellation**: Part of the Iridium satellite constellation

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Iridium 23?
A: Iridium 23 was a communications satellite designed to support voice and data services as part of the Iridium global network.

### Q: When did Iridium 23 launch and cease operations?
A: It launched on August 21, 1997, and reentered the atmosphere on March 28, 2018, ending its operational lifespan.

### Q: How was Iridium 23 deployed?
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West.

## Why It Matters
Iridium 23 contributed to the Iridium constellation’s mission of providing seamless global telecommunications, a critical service for remote and underserved regions. As part of the first generation of Iridium satellites, it helped establish a network that revolutionized satellite communication by offering consistent coverage across the globe. Its lifespan and eventual deorbiting highlight the challenges of maintaining aging satellite infrastructure, underscoring the need for periodic constellation upgrades to sustain modern communication demands.

## Notable For
- **Long Operational Lifespan**: Operated for over 20 years, exceeding the initial design life of the first-generation Iridium satellites.
- **Delta II Launch Heritage**: Deployed via the Delta II rocket, a reliable workhorse for satellite launches in the 1990s.
- **Constellation Contribution**: Played a key role in the Iridium network’s early success, enabling worldwide connectivity.

## Body
### Launch and Deployment
- **Date**: August 21, 1997
- **Rocket**: Delta II (retired expendable launch system)
- **Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West, California, USA

### Mission and Specifications
- **Primary Function**: Telecommunications as part of the Iridium satellite constellation.
- **Identifiers**:
  - **SCN**: 24906
  - **COSPAR ID**: 1997-043D
  - **NSSDCA ID**: 1997-043D
- **Aliases**: Iridium SV023

### Decommissioning
- **Event**: Atmospheric reentry
- **Date**: March 28, 2018
- **Significance**: Marked the end of its operational life after over two decades in service.

### Technical Context
- **Constellation Role**: The Iridium network relies on a fleet of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide continuous global coverage.
- **Legacy**: Part of the first-generation Iridium satellites, later replaced by upgraded second- and third-generation models to enhance capacity and services.

## References

1. SATCAT