# Iridium 6

> communications satellite operated by Iridium Communications

**Wikidata**: [Q111498610](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111498610)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/iridium-6

## Summary
Iridium 6 was a communications satellite operated by Iridium Communications and served as a component of the Iridium satellite constellation. Launched in May 1997 aboard a Delta II rocket, it provided telecommunications coverage until its atmospheric entry in December 2017. It is classified as a former entity with the Satellite Catalog Number 24794.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Communications satellite; identified as a "former entity."
- **Operator:** Iridium Communications.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1997-020C.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 24794.
- **Alternate Name:** Iridium SV006.
- **Launch Date:** May 5, 1997, at 14:55:28 UTC.
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta II (specifically the D-242 variant).
- **Parent System:** Part of the Iridium satellite constellation.
- **Decommissioning:** Atmospheric entry occurred on December 23, 2017.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Iridium 6 launched?
A: Iridium 6 was launched on May 5, 1997, at 14:55:28 UTC. It was delivered to orbit by a Delta II rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West.

### Q: What happened to Iridium 6?
A: The satellite re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on December 23, 2017. Following this atmospheric entry, it is considered a former entity.

### Q: What was the function of Iridium 6?
A: Iridium 6 was a communications satellite designed to provide voice and data coverage as part of the broader Iridium satellite constellation.

## Why It Matters
Iridium 6 represents a critical piece of early global telecommunications infrastructure. As part of the Iridium satellite constellation, it contributed to a network designed to provide voice and data coverage across the entire surface of the Earth, including areas traditionally underserved by terrestrial cell towers.

The satellite's lifespan covers a significant era in space history, from the commercial space boom of the late 1990s to the modernization of satellite networks in the late 2010s. Its launch aboard a Delta II rocket connects it to one of the most reliable expendable launch systems in history. Furthermore, its planned atmospheric entry in 2017 highlights the operational lifecycle of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and the management of space debris, serving as a concrete example of a satellite that was successfully retired through natural orbit decay.

## Notable For
- Being an early operational unit of the Iridium satellite constellation.
- Launching aboard the Delta II D-242, a retired expendable launch system.
- Having a distinct two-decade operational lifespan before natural decay.
- Tracking via the specific Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "24794"]`.
- Its specific departure from orbit on December 23, 2017, which marks its transition to a "former entity."

## Body

### Mission Overview
Iridium 6 (designated Iridium SV006) functioned as a communications satellite operated by Iridium Communications. Its primary role was to act as a node in the Iridium satellite constellation, a network of artificial satellites designed to facilitate global telecommunications. It operated under the standard classification of a communications satellite until its retirement.

### Launch Specifications
The satellite was successfully launched on **May 5, 1997**, precisely at **14:55:28** UTC. The mission utilized a **Delta II** rocket, variant **D-242**, to deliver the payload into orbit. The launch originated from **Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West**. This event is recorded as a significant "rocket launch" event in the satellite's history.

### Identifiers and Classification
Iridium 6 is tracked and cataloged by several scientific and industrial identifiers:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1997-020C
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1997-020C
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 24794
- **Wolfram Language Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "24794"]`

### End of Mission
The satellite's operational life concluded with its orbit decay. On **December 23, 2017**, Iridium 6 underwent atmospheric entry. Consequently, the object is now classified as a "former entity" and is no longer in orbit.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1997-020C)