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                                                                      EXHIBIT 12
 
                             IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
 
                   (A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF IRIDIUM LLC)
                (A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
               COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
 


                                                                          PERIODS FOLLOWING INITIAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION DATE
                                                                       ---------------------------------------------------------
                                      YEAR ENDED                       JULY 29, 1993 TO          DECEMBER 31,
                                     DECEMBER 31,   JANUARY 1, 1993      DECEMBER 31,     ---------------------------
                                         1992       TO JULY 28, 1993         1993          1994      1995      1996       1997
                                     ------------   ----------------   ----------------   -------   -------   -------   --------
                                                                                                   
Fixed charges:
  Capitalized Interest..............        --               --                 --             --        --    28,127    163,747
  Portion of rent expense
    representative of interest(1)...        --               --                 54            264       342       398      2,607
                                        ------           ------             ------        -------   -------   -------   --------
        Total fixed charges.........        --               --                 54            264       342    28,525    166,354
                                        ======           ======             ======        =======   =======   =======   ========
Earnings:
  Loss before income taxes..........    (8,773)          (5,309)            (6,751)       (13,309)  (21,961)  (69,009)  (293,401)
  Fixed charges, less capitalized
    interest........................        --               --                 54            264       342       398      2,607
                                        ------           ------             ------        -------   -------   -------   --------
    Earnings adjusted for fixed
      charges.......................    (8,773)          (5,309)            (6,697)       (13,045)  (21,619)  (68,611)  (290,744)
                                        ======           ======             ======        =======   =======   =======   ========
Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges...........................        --               --                 --             --        --        --         --
Deficiency in earnings to cover
  fixed charges.....................     8,773            5,309              6,751         13,309    21,961    97,136    457,148

 
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(1) One-third of rent expense is deemed to be representative of interest.