LM-700
{{Infobox Spacecraft class
|image = Iridium satellite.jpg
|caption = An LM-700A in a museum
|name = LM-700 (Iridium)
|manufacturer = Motorola
Lockheed Martin
|country = {{USA}}
|applications = Communication
|orbits = Low Earth
|operator = Iridium Satellite LLC
|lifetime =
|status = Out of production
|built = 99
|launched = 95
|operational = At least 66
|retired = At least 2
|failed = 5
|first = Iridium 4
5 May 1997
|last = Iridium 98
20 June 2002
|lastretired =
|mass = {{convert|689|kg}} |autoconvert = off
|power = 2 Solar arrays
}}
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.
Overview
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.
{{clear}}
Satellites
| class="wikitable"
!rowspan=2|Name !rowspan=2|Bus !colspan=3|Launch !rowspan=2|Owner !rowspan=2|Status !rowspan=2|Remarks |
| Date/Time (GMT)
!Rocket !Site |
|---|
| Iridium 1
|LM-700A |colspan=3 align="center"|N/A |Not launched | |
| Iridium 2
|LM-700A |colspan=3 align="center"|N/A |Not launched | |
| Iridium 3
|LM-700A |1998-08-19, 23:01 |Active | |
| Iridium 4
|LM-700A |1997-05-05, 14:55 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 5
|LM-700A |1997-05-05, 14:55 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 6
|LM-700A |1997-05-05, 14:55 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 7
|LM-700A |1997-05-05, 14:55 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 8
|LM-700A |1997-05-05, 14:55 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 9
|LM-700A |1997-06-18, 14:02 |Active | |
| Iridium 10
|LM-700A |1997-06-18, 14:02 |Active | |
| Iridium 11
|LM-700A |1997-06-18, 14:02 |Active | |
| Iridium 12
|LM-700A |1997-06-18, 14:02 |Active | |
| Iridium 13
|LM-700A |1997-06-18, 14:02 |Active | |
| Iridium 14
|LM-700A |1997-06-18, 14:02 |Active | |
| Iridium 15
|LM-700A |1997-07-09, 13:04 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 16
|LM-700A |1997-06-18, 14:02 |Active | |
| Iridium 17
|LM-700A |1997-07-09, 13:04 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 18
|LM-700A |1997-07-09, 13:04 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 19
|LM-700A |1997-09-27, 01:23 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| {{nowrap|Iridium 20}}
|{{nowrap|LM-700A}} |{{nowrap|1997-07-09, 13:04}} |Delta II 7920-10C |{{nowrap|Vandenberg SLC-2W}} |Failed | |
| Iridium 21
|LM-700A |1997-07-09, 13:04 |Delta II 7920-10C |Failed | |
| Iridium 22
|LM-700A |1997-08-21, 00:38 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 23
|LM-700A |1997-08-21, 00:38 |Delta II 7920-10C |Failed | |
| Iridium 24
|LM-700A |1997-08-21, 00:38 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 25
|LM-700A |1997-08-21, 00:38 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 26
|LM-700A |1997-08-21, 00:38 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 27
|LM-700A |1997-09-14, 01:36 |Failed | |
| Iridium 28
|LM-700A |1997-09-14, 01:36 |Retired |Failed in July 2008, past end of design life |
| Iridium 29
|LM-700A |1997-09-14, 01:36 |Active | |
| Iridium 30
|LM-700A |1997-09-14, 01:36 |Active | |
| Iridium 31
|LM-700A |1997-09-14, 01:36 |Active | |
| Iridium 32
|LM-700A |1997-09-14, 01:36 |Active | |
| Iridium 33
|LM-700A |1997-09-14, 01:36 |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 |Active | |
| Iridium 35
|LM-700A |1997-09-27, 01:23 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 36
|LM-700A |1997-09-27, 01:23 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 37
|LM-700A |1997-09-27, 01:23 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 38
|LM-700A |1997-11-09, 01:34 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 39
|LM-700A |1997-11-09, 01:34 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 40
|LM-700A |1997-11-09, 01:34 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 41
|LM-700A |1997-11-09, 01:34 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 42
|LM-700A |1997-12-08, 07:16 |Active | |
| Iridium 43
|LM-700A |1997-11-09, 01:34 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 44
|LM-700A |1997-12-08, 07:16 |Active | |
| Iridium 45
|LM-700A |1997-12-20, 13:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 46
|LM-700A |1997-12-20, 13:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 47
|LM-700A |1997-12-20, 13:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 48
|LM-700A |1997-12-20, 13:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 49
|LM-700A |1997-12-20, 13:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 50
|LM-700A |1998-02-18, 13:58 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 51
|LM-700A |1998-03-25, 17:01 |Active | |
| Iridium 52
|LM-700A |1998-02-18, 13:58 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 53
|LM-700A |1998-02-18, 13:58 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 54
|LM-700A |1998-02-18, 13:58 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 55
|LM-700A |1998-03-30, 06:02 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 56
|LM-700A |1998-02-18, 13:58 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 57
|LM-700A |1998-03-30, 06:02 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 58
|LM-700A |1998-03-30, 06:02 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 59
|LM-700A |1998-03-30, 06:02 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 60
|LM-700A |1998-03-30, 06:02 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 61
|LM-700A |1998-03-25, 17:01 |Active | |
| Iridium 62
|LM-700A |1998-04-07, 02:13 |Active | |
| Iridium 63
|LM-700A |1998-04-07, 02:13 |Active | |
| Iridium 64
|LM-700A |1998-04-07, 02:13 |Active | |
| Iridium 65
|LM-700A |1998-04-07, 02:13 |Active | |
| Iridium 66
|LM-700A |1998-04-07, 02:13 |Active | |
| Iridium 67
|LM-700A |1998-04-07, 02:13 |Active | |
| Iridium 68
|LM-700A |1998-04-07, 02:13 |Active | |
| Iridium 69
|LM-700A |1998-05-02, 09:16 |Active | |
| Iridium 70
|LM-700A |1998-05-17, 21:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 71
|LM-700A |1998-05-02, 09:16 |Active | |
| Iridium 72
|LM-700A |1998-05-17, 21:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 73
|LM-700A |1998-05-17, 21:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 74
|LM-700A |1998-05-17, 21:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 75
|LM-700A |1998-05-17, 21:16 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 76
|LM-700A |1998-08-19, 23:01 |Active | |
| Iridium 77
|LM-700A |1998-09-08, 21:13 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 78
|LM-700A |colspan=3 align="center"|N/A |Not launched | |
| Iridium 79
|LM-700A |1998-09-08, 21:13 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 80
|LM-700A |1998-09-08, 21:13 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 81
|LM-700A |1998-09-08, 21:13 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 82
|LM-700A |1998-09-08, 21:13 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 83
|LM-700A |1998-11-06, 13:37 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 84
|LM-700A |1998-11-06, 13:37 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 85
|LM-700A |1998-11-06, 13:37 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 86
|LM-700A |1998-11-06, 13:37 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| Iridium 87
|LM-700A |1998-11-06, 13:37 |Delta II 7920-10C |Active | |
| SBIRS-LADS
|LM-700B |N/A |USAF |Not launched | |
{{Expand list|date=April 2009}}
See also
References
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/lockheed_lm-700.htm|title=Lockheed Martin: LM-700|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|accessdate=2009-04-27}}
- {{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/iridium.htm|title=Iridium|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|accessdate=2009-04-27}}
- {{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sbirs-lads.htm|title=SBIRS-LADS|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|accessdate=2009-04-27}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/lm700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020821165515/http://astronautix.com/craft/lm700.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 21, 2002|title=LM 700|first=Mark|last=Wade|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|accessdate=2009-04-27}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/project/iridium.htm|title=Iridium|first=Mark|last=Wade|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|accessdate=2009-04-27|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216185343/http://www.astronautix.com/project/iridium.htm|archivedate=2009-02-16}}
{{refend}}
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