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