The LM-700 is a satellite bus which was built by Lockheed Martin between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. Typically used for low Earth orbit communications satellites, ninety nine were built, all but one for Iridium Satellite LLC. The exception was a technology development satellite for the United States Air Force, which was never launched. In addition, two boilerplate satellites were launched on a test flight of the Chinese Long March 2C rocket.

LM-700 (Iridium)
An LM-700A in a museum
ManufacturerMotorola
Lockheed Martin
Country of origin United States
OperatorIridium Satellite LLC
ApplicationsCommunication
Specifications
Launch mass689 kilograms (1,519 lb)
Power2 Solar arrays
RegimeLow Earth
Production
StatusOut of production
Built99
Launched95
OperationalAt least 66
RetiredAt least 2
Failed5
Maiden launchIridium 4
5 May 1997
Last launchIridium 98
20 June 2002

Overview

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Two variants of the LM-700 were built. The ninety eight Iridium satellites used the LM-700A configuration, specialised for communications. Of these ninety five were launched, whilst three were retained as spares. One of the spare satellites is now displayed in the US National Air and Space Museum.

The LM-700B, designed for other missions, was also offered. One was built as the SBIRS-LADS demonstration satellite for the US Air Force's Space Based Infrared System, however its launch was cancelled after the satellite had been completed and delivered to the customer.

The LM-700A Iridium satellites were launched in clusters between 1997 and 2002. Satellites were launched in groups of five on Delta II 7920-10C rockets, groups of seven on Proton-K/DM2 rockets, pairs on the Long March 2C and on the last launch, two satellites on a Rockot. The cancelled SBIRS-LADS satellite would have used an Athena II.

An LM-700A, Iridium 33 was one of the satellites destroyed in the 2009 satellite collision. Most of the Iridium satellites currently in orbit have already exceeded their design life, whilst others are approaching the end of it, however at least enough satellites are still operating to maintain the network, which requires sixty six.

Satellites

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Name Bus Launch Owner Status Remarks
Date/Time (GMT) Rocket Site
Iridium 1 LM-700A N/A Iridium Not launched
Iridium 2 LM-700A N/A Iridium Not launched
Iridium 3 LM-700A 1998-08-19, 23:01 Long March 2C-III/SD Taiyuan LC-1 Iridium Active
Iridium 4 LM-700A 1997-05-05, 14:55 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 5 LM-700A 1997-05-05, 14:55 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 6 LM-700A 1997-05-05, 14:55 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 7 LM-700A 1997-05-05, 14:55 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 8 LM-700A 1997-05-05, 14:55 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 9 LM-700A 1997-06-18, 14:02 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 10 LM-700A 1997-06-18, 14:02 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 11 LM-700A 1997-06-18, 14:02 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 12 LM-700A 1997-06-18, 14:02 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 13 LM-700A 1997-06-18, 14:02 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 14 LM-700A 1997-06-18, 14:02 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 15 LM-700A 1997-07-09, 13:04 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 16 LM-700A 1997-06-18, 14:02 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 17 LM-700A 1997-07-09, 13:04 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 18 LM-700A 1997-07-09, 13:04 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 19 LM-700A 1997-09-27, 01:23 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 20 LM-700A 1997-07-09, 13:04 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Failed
Iridium 21 LM-700A 1997-07-09, 13:04 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Failed
Iridium 22 LM-700A 1997-08-21, 00:38 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 23 LM-700A 1997-08-21, 00:38 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Failed
Iridium 24 LM-700A 1997-08-21, 00:38 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 25 LM-700A 1997-08-21, 00:38 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 26 LM-700A 1997-08-21, 00:38 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 27 LM-700A 1997-09-14, 01:36 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Failed
Iridium 28 LM-700A 1997-09-14, 01:36 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Retired Failed in July 2008, past end of design life
Iridium 29 LM-700A 1997-09-14, 01:36 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 30 LM-700A 1997-09-14, 01:36 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 31 LM-700A 1997-09-14, 01:36 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 32 LM-700A 1997-09-14, 01:36 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 33 LM-700A 1997-09-14, 01:36 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Destroyed Collided with Kosmos-2251 in February 2009, past end of design life
Iridium 34 LM-700A 1997-09-27, 01:23 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 35 LM-700A 1997-09-27, 01:23 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 36 LM-700A 1997-09-27, 01:23 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 37 LM-700A 1997-09-27, 01:23 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 38 LM-700A 1997-11-09, 01:34 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 39 LM-700A 1997-11-09, 01:34 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 40 LM-700A 1997-11-09, 01:34 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 41 LM-700A 1997-11-09, 01:34 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 42 LM-700A 1997-12-08, 07:16 Long March 2C-III/SD Taiyuan LC-1 Iridium Active
Iridium 43 LM-700A 1997-11-09, 01:34 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 44 LM-700A 1997-12-08, 07:16 Long March 2C-III/SD Taiyuan LC-1 Iridium Active
Iridium 45 LM-700A 1997-12-20, 13:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 46 LM-700A 1997-12-20, 13:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 47 LM-700A 1997-12-20, 13:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 48 LM-700A 1997-12-20, 13:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 49 LM-700A 1997-12-20, 13:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 50 LM-700A 1998-02-18, 13:58 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 51 LM-700A 1998-03-25, 17:01 Long March 2C-III/SD Taiyuan LC-1 Iridium Active
Iridium 52 LM-700A 1998-02-18, 13:58 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 53 LM-700A 1998-02-18, 13:58 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 54 LM-700A 1998-02-18, 13:58 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 55 LM-700A 1998-03-30, 06:02 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 56 LM-700A 1998-02-18, 13:58 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 57 LM-700A 1998-03-30, 06:02 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 58 LM-700A 1998-03-30, 06:02 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 59 LM-700A 1998-03-30, 06:02 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 60 LM-700A 1998-03-30, 06:02 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 61 LM-700A 1998-03-25, 17:01 Long March 2C-III/SD Taiyuan LC-1 Iridium Active
Iridium 62 LM-700A 1998-04-07, 02:13 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 63 LM-700A 1998-04-07, 02:13 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 64 LM-700A 1998-04-07, 02:13 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 65 LM-700A 1998-04-07, 02:13 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 66 LM-700A 1998-04-07, 02:13 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 67 LM-700A 1998-04-07, 02:13 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 68 LM-700A 1998-04-07, 02:13 Proton-K/DM2 Baikonur Site 81/23 Iridium Active
Iridium 69 LM-700A 1998-05-02, 09:16 Long March 2C-III/SD Taiyuan LC-1 Iridium Active
Iridium 70 LM-700A 1998-05-17, 21:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 71 LM-700A 1998-05-02, 09:16 Long March 2C-III/SD Taiyuan LC-1 Iridium Active
Iridium 72 LM-700A 1998-05-17, 21:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 73 LM-700A 1998-05-17, 21:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 74 LM-700A 1998-05-17, 21:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 75 LM-700A 1998-05-17, 21:16 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 76 LM-700A 1998-08-19, 23:01 Long March 2C-III/SD Taiyuan LC-1 Iridium Active
Iridium 77 LM-700A 1998-09-08, 21:13 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 78 LM-700A N/A Iridium Not launched
Iridium 79 LM-700A 1998-09-08, 21:13 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 80 LM-700A 1998-09-08, 21:13 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 81 LM-700A 1998-09-08, 21:13 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 82 LM-700A 1998-09-08, 21:13 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 83 LM-700A 1998-11-06, 13:37 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 84 LM-700A 1998-11-06, 13:37 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 85 LM-700A 1998-11-06, 13:37 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 86 LM-700A 1998-11-06, 13:37 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
Iridium 87 LM-700A 1998-11-06, 13:37 Delta II 7920-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Iridium Active
SBIRS-LADS LM-700B N/A Athena II Vandenberg SLC-6 USAF Not launched

See also

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References

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  • Krebs, Gunter. "Lockheed Martin: LM-700". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Iridium". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "SBIRS-LADS". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  • Wade, Mark. "LM 700". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on August 21, 2002. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  • Wade, Mark. "Iridium". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2009-04-27.