# Lincoln Experimental Satellite

> series of experimental satellites built by Lincoln Laboratory

**Wikidata**: [Q6550662](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6550662)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Experimental_Satellite)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lincoln-experimental-satellite

## Summary
The Lincoln Experimental Satellite (LES) is a series of experimental satellites built by MIT Lincoln Laboratory to demonstrate new spacecraft technologies. The program included multiple satellites launched between 1965 and 2020, with notable achievements in communications and long-term operational resilience.

## Key Facts
- **Designer/Manufacturer**: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Service Period**: 1965–2020
- **Classification**: Technology demonstration spacecraft series
- **Notable Satellites**: LES-1 (resumed transmitting c. 2012 after stopping in 1967), LES-7 (cancelled), LES-9 (decommissioned in 2020)
- **Aliases**: LES, Les (satélite)
- **Wikidata Sitelinks**: 7 (including English, French, German, and Portuguese Wikipedia)

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Lincoln Experimental Satellite program?
A: The LES program was designed to test and demonstrate experimental spacecraft technologies, particularly in communications and satellite operations.

### Q: How many Lincoln Experimental Satellites were built?
A: At least 9 satellites were part of the series (LES-1 through LES-9), though LES-7 was cancelled.

### Q: What happened to LES-1?
A: LES-1 stopped transmitting in 1967 but unexpectedly resumed signals around 2012, decades after its expected lifespan.

### Q: When was the LES program retired?
A: The last active satellite, LES-9, was decommissioned in 2020.

### Q: Who built the Lincoln Experimental Satellites?
A: All satellites in the series were designed and manufactured by MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

## Why It Matters
The Lincoln Experimental Satellite program played a key role in advancing satellite technology, particularly in communications and long-duration space operations. LES-1’s unexpected reactivation after 45 years of silence provided valuable data on satellite longevity and radiation effects in space. The series helped validate technologies that later became standard in operational satellites, contributing to the development of modern communications and military satellite systems. Its decommissioning in 2020 marked the end of an era in experimental space research, highlighting the program’s enduring impact on aerospace engineering.

## Notable For
- **Unprecedented Longevity**: LES-1 resumed transmitting signals in 2012 after a 45-year silence, demonstrating extreme durability.
- **Technology Demonstration**: Served as a testbed for experimental spacecraft technologies, particularly in communications.
- **MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Role**: Entirely designed and built by MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory, showcasing academic contributions to space technology.
- **Long Operational History**: Spanned over five decades (1965–2020), with multiple satellites contributing to research.
- **Cancelled Mission**: LES-7 was the only satellite in the series that was cancelled, providing a case study in program adjustments.

## Body
### Overview
The Lincoln Experimental Satellite (LES) series was a collection of technology demonstration spacecraft developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The program aimed to test new satellite technologies, with a focus on communications and operational resilience.

### Satellite Variants
- **LES-1**: Launched in 1965, it stopped transmitting in 1967 but resumed signals around 2012.
- **LES-2 to LES-6**: Former American communications satellites, each contributing to experimental research.
- **LES-7**: Cancelled before completion.
- **LES-8 and LES-9**: Later models, with LES-9 being the last active satellite, decommissioned in 2020.

### Technical Details
- **Manufacturer**: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
- **Country**: United States
- **Service Entry**: 1965 (LES-1)
- **Service Retirement**: 2020 (LES-9)
- **Classification**: Technology demonstration spacecraft

### Legacy
The LES program provided critical insights into satellite longevity, radiation effects, and communications technologies. Its findings influenced subsequent satellite designs and operational protocols.

## Schema Markup
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## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [Source](https://news.mit.edu/2020/lincoln-laboratory-decommissions-lincoln-experimental-satellite-9-0527)