LES (Lincoln Experimental Satellite)
![LES 9](../../images/LES_9.jpg)
LES 9.
The LES (Lincoln Experimental Satellite) series were spacecraft designed and built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory as part of the Lab's Air Force-sponsored program in space communications. Their goal was to test realistically, in orbit, new devices and techniques developed for possible use in satellite communication systems. LES-5 was designed to aid in the development of a tactical satellite communication system for the Department of Defense and was used for the first-ever satellite communications among Army, Navy, and Air Force units. All spacecraft in the LES series were launched from Cape Canaveral.
spacecraft | launch date | launch vehicle | orbit | mass (kg) |
LES 1 | Feb 11, 1965 | Titan IIIA | 2,783 × 2,809 km × 32.1° | 31 |
LES 2 | May 6, 1965 | Titan IIIA | 2,771 × 14,810 km × 32.2° | 37 |
LES 3 | Dec 21, 1965 | Titan IIIC | 267 × 4,829 km × 26.5° | 16 |
LES 4 | " | " | 189 × 33,632 km × 26.6° | 52 |
LES 5 | Jul 1, 1967 | Titan IIIC | 33,188 × 33,618 km × 11.6° | 194 |
LES 6 | Sep 26, 1968 | Titan IIIC | 35,771 × 35,847 km × 13.0° | 163 |
LES 8 | Mar 15, 1976 | Titan IIIC | 35,687 × 35,886 km × 17.0° | 454 |
LES 9 | " | " | 35,745 × 35,825 km × 17.0° | 454 |