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Proton-K/17S40 | Iridium 09 to 14 & Iridium 16

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
June 18, 1997, 2:02 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Iridium provides global mobile telecommunications services using a constellation of 66 low earth orbit satellites in a 86.4° inclined orbit. Although 77 satellites were originally envisioned for the system and spawned the name based on the 77th element in the periodic table, the system has been scaled back. Motorola's Satellite Communications Group designed and manufactured the Iridium satellites with Lockheed Martin providing the LM-700A spacecraft buses.

Low Earth Orbit
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Long March 3 | Feng Yun 2A

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
June 10, 1997, 12:01 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

China's geostationary meteorological satellite program FY-2 (Feng Yun 2) began its development in 1980. It is built by the Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering.

Geostationary Orbit
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Proton-K/17S40 | Araks-N 1

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
June 6, 1997, 4:56 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

The Araks-N was a electro-optical area reconnaissance satellite, which had reportedly a resolution of 2 - 10 m (panchromatic and infra red). Its high orbit gave it a longer loitering time over the target.

Low Earth Orbit
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Ariane 44L | INMARSAT III F-4 & Insat 2D

Aérospatiale | France
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
June 3, 1997, 11:20 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

INMARSAT III F-4 and Insat 2D are communications satellites operating in geostationary orbit.

Geostationary Orbit
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Proton-K/DM-2M | Telstar 5

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 24, 1997, 5 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

American communications satellite

Geostationary Orbit
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Delta II | Thor II

United Launch Alliance | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
May 20, 1997, 10:39 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

In November 1995, Hughes was awarded the contract for Thor 2, a high-powered version of Hughes' spin-stabilized HS-376 model. Thor 2 was successfully launched in May 1997.

Geostationary Orbit
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Zenit-2 | Tselina-2 19

Yuzhnoye Design Bureau | Ukraine
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 20, 1997, 7:07 a.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

Second generation ELING satellite

Low Earth Orbit
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Soyuz U | Orlets-1 6

Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 15, 1997, 12:10 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Film-return reconnaissance satellite

Low Earth Orbit
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Space Shuttle Columbia / OV-102 | STS-84

National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of America
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
May 15, 1997, 8:07 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

STS-84 was a manned spaceflight mission by Space Shuttle Atlantis to the Mir space station.

Low Earth Orbit
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Molniya-M | US-K 78

Russian Space Forces | Russia
Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
May 14, 1997, 12:33 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Early warning satellite

Elliptical Orbit
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