<PAGE>   1
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1998
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 333-____
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           ---------------------------


                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           ---------------------------


                        IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                        <C>
             BERMUDA                                            52-2025291
   (State or other jurisdiction                              (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)

        CLARENDON HOUSE                                            HM11
        2 CHURCH STREET                                         (Zip Code)
        HAMILTON BERMUDA
(Address of Principal Executive                                    
            Offices)                                            
</TABLE>
                                 ---------------
                                   IRIDIUM LLC
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
           DELAWARE                                             52-1984342
 (State or other jurisdiction                                (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)

     1575 EYE STREET, N.W.                                        20005
        WASHINGTON, DC                                          (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive                                 
           Offices)                                             
</TABLE>

                               IRIDIUM OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                           ---------------------------


                             F. THOMAS TUTTLE, ESQ.
                                   IRIDIUM LLC
                        IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
                              1575 EYE STREET, N.W.
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20005
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (202) 408-3800
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                           ---------------------------


                                    Copy to:
                            DENNIS C. SULLIVAN, ESQ.
                               SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
                         1701 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20006
                                 (202) 956-7500
                           ---------------------------


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

===============================================================================================================================
                                                                 PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF
                                              AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE PER UNIT    AGGREGATE OFFERING     REGISTRATION
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED          REGISTERED (1)              (2)                    PRICE               FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>                   <C>                     <C>                <C>
SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK, 
   PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE..............      3,000,000             $32.6875                $98,062,500        $28,928.44
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS 1 MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS OF
   IRIDIUM LLC...........................      3,000,000                N/A                      N/A                N/A
===============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)         This Registration Statement covers (i) up to 3,000,000 shares (the
            "Shares") of Class A Common Stock of Iridium World Communications
            Ltd. ("IWCL"), par value $.01 per share (the "Class A Common
            Stock"), to be sold under the Iridium Option Plan. (the "Plan") and
            (ii) up to 3,000,000 Class 1 Membership Interests in Iridium LLC
            ("Iridium") to be issued to IWCL in connection with the sale of the
            Shares.

(2)         Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the maximum offering price has been
            calculated, solely for the purpose of determining the registration
            fee, in accordance with Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the
            high and low sales prices of the Class A Common Stock, as quoted on
            the Nasdaq National Market, on September 4, 1998.




<PAGE>   2



                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

         The information contained in Iridium World Communications Ltd.'s and
Iridium LLC's (the "Registrants") registration statement on Form S-8,
Registration File Nos. 333-38173; 333- 38173-01, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on October 17, 1997 (the "1997 S-8"), is incorporated herein
by reference.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         The information contained in the 1997 S-8 is incorporated herein by
reference. This Registration Statement relates to an amendment to the Iridium
LLC Option Plan of 1996 to increase the aggregate number of shares
issuable thereunder from 2,625,000 to 5,625,000 and to change the name of the
plan from the "Iridium LLC Option Plan of 1996" to the "Iridium Option Plan."
On January 21, 1998, the directors of Iridium LLC approved the amendment to the
Iridium Option Plan, and on May 21, 1998, the amendment to the Iridium Option
Plan was approved by Iridium World Communications Ltd.'s shareholders at 1998
Annual General Meeting.

ITEM 3.       INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents previously filed by the Registrants with the
Commission are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

         (a) The Registrants' Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997.

         (b) All other reports filed by the Registrants pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), since December 31, 1997.

         (c) The description of the Class A Common Stock contained in the
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on June 2, 1997
declared effective on June 9, 1997 pursuant to the Exchange Act.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrants pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all the securities offered
hereby have been sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, or
in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.




<PAGE>   3




ITEM 5.       INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

        The validity of the Class A Common Stock registered hereby is being
passed upon by Conyers Dill & Pearman.

ITEM 8.       EXHIBITS

The information in Item 8 "Exhibits" in the 1997 S-8 is supplemented as follows:

Exhibit
  No.         Description

5.1           Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman as to the validity of the
              shares to be issued.*

23.1          Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.*

23.2          Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman: Contained in Exhibit 5.1.

24.1          Power of Attorney:  Included on signature page.

99.1          Amended and Restated Iridium Option Plan effective as of
              July 14, 1998.*
--------------

* Filed herewith.


<PAGE>   4



                                  SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrants certify that they have reasonable grounds to believe that they meet
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and have duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, hereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia, on September
11, 1998.

                                      IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.


                                      By:   /s/ Edward F. Staiano
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                    Edward F. Staiano
                                          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                                                Date: September 11, 1998

                                      IRIDIUM LLC


                                      By: /s/ Robert W. Kinzie
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                    Robert W. Kinzie
                                                        Chairman
                                                Date: September 11, 1998

<PAGE>   5



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Edward F. Staiano, Robert
W. Kinzie and F. Thomas Tuttle, acting individually, as his attorney-in-fact and
agent, with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to
sign the registration statement on Form S-8 of Iridium World Communications Ltd.
and Iridium LLC and any and all amendments thereto under the Securities Act of
1933, including any and all pre-effective or post-effective amendments, and to
file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies,
approves and confirms all that his said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

               NAME                                              TITLE                                         DATE
--------------------------------------------------        ------------------------------------        ----------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                                         <C>
/s/ Robert W. Kinzie                                      Director of Iridium World                   September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Communications Ltd. and
                    Robert W. Kinzie                      Chairman of Iridium LLC                     
                                                                                                      
/s/Edward F. Staiano                                      Chairman and Chief Executive                September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Officer of Iridium World
                    Edward F. Staiano                     Communications Ltd. and Vice                
                                                          Chairman and Chief Executive                
                                                          Officer of Iridium LLC                      
                                                                                                      
/s/ Roy Grant                                             Chief Financial Officer of Iridium          September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        World Communications Ltd. and
                        Roy Grant                         Vice President-Chief Financial              
                                                          Officer of Iridium LLC                      
                                                                                                      
/s/ Aburizal Bakrie                                       Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                     Aburizal Bakrie                                                                  
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                    Hasan M. Binladin                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ Gordon J. Comerford                                   Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   Gordon J. Comerford                                                                
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                 Atilano de Oms Sobrinho                                                              
</TABLE>
        
<PAGE>   6


<TABLE>
<S>                                                       <C>                                         <C>      
/s/ Robert A. Ferchat                                     Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                    Robert A. Ferchat                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ Alberto Finol                                         Deputy Chairman and Director of             September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Iridium World Communications
                      Alberto Finol                       Ltd. and Director of Iridium LLC            
                                                                                                      
/s/ Edward Gams                                           Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                       Edward Gams                                                                    
                                                                                                      
/s/ Durell Hillis                                         Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Durell Hillis                                                                   
                                                                                                      
/s/ Kazuo Inamori                                         Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Kazuo Inamori                                                                   
                                                                                                      
/s/ S.H. Khan                                             Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                       S. H. Khan                                                                     
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   Anatoly I. Kiselev                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ Richard L. Lesher                                     Director of Iridium World                   September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Communications Ltd. and Iridium
                    Richard L. Lesher                     LLC                                         
                                                                                                      
/s/ John F. Mitchell                                      Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                                                                                                      
                    John F. Mitchell                                                                  
/s/ Jung L. Mok                                           Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                       Jung L. Mok                                                                    
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                    Giuseppe Morganti                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ J. Michael Norris                                     Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   J. Michael Norris                                                                  
                                                                                                      
/s/ Yusai Okuyama                                         Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Yusai Okuyama                                                                   
                                                                                                      
/s/ John A. Richardson                                    Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   John A. Richardson                                                                 
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   Theodore H. Schell                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ William A. Schreyer                                   Director of Iridium World                   September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Communications Ltd. and Iridium
                   William A. Schreyer                    LLC                                         
                                                                                                      
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   7

<TABLE>
<S>                                                       <C>                                         <C>      
/s/ Sribhumi Sukhanetr                                    Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   Sribhumi Sukhanetr                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ Tao-Tsun Sun                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Tao-Tsun Sun                                                                    
                                                                                                      
/s/ Yoshiharu Yasuda                                      Director of Iridium World                   September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Communications Ltd. and Iridium
                    Yoshiharu Yasuda                      LLC                                         
                                                                                                      
/s/ Wang Mei Yue                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Wang Mei Yue                                                                    
                                                                                                      
/s/ Peter Zaboji                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Peter Zaboji                                                                    
                                                                                                      
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   8


                                EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
  No.             Description

5.1               Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman as to the validity of the 
                  shares to be issued.*

23.1              Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.*

23.2              Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman: Contained in Exhibit 5.1.

24.1              Power of Attorney:  Included on signature page.

99.1              Amended and Restated Iridium LLC Option Plan effective as of 
                  July 14, 1998.*
--------------

* Filed herewith.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 24255}]
[{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD", "cik": "0001035442", "assigned-sic": "4812", "irs-number": "522025291", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-63337", "film-number": "98708891"}, "business-address": {"street1": "CLARENDON HOUSE", "street2": "2 CHURCH STREET", "city": "HAMILTON HM 11 BURMU", "state": "D0", "zip": "00000", "phone": "4412955950"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "CLAREDON HOUSE", "street2": "2 CHURCH STREET", "city": "HAMILTON HM 11 BURMU", "state": "D0", "zip": "00000"}}, {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "IRIDIUM LLC", "cik": "0000948421", "assigned-sic": "4812", "irs-number": "521984342", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-63337-01", "film-number": "98708892"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1575 EYE STREET N W", "city": "WASH", "state": "DC", "zip": "20006", "phone": "2023265600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1575 EYE STREET NW", "city": "WASHINGTON", "state": "DC", "zip": "20005"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "IRIDIUM INC /DE", "date-changed": "19950724"}}]
1
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1998
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 333-____
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           ---------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           ---------------------------

                        IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
BERMUDA                                            52-2025291
   (State or other jurisdiction                              (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)

        CLARENDON HOUSE                                            HM11
        2 CHURCH STREET                                         (Zip Code)
        HAMILTON BERMUDA
(Address of Principal Executive                                    
            Offices)
---------------
                                   IRIDIUM LLC
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE                                             52-1984342
 (State or other jurisdiction                                (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)

     1575 EYE STREET, N.W.                                        20005
        WASHINGTON, DC                                          (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive                                 
           Offices)
IRIDIUM OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                           ---------------------------

                             F. THOMAS TUTTLE, ESQ.
                                   IRIDIUM LLC
                        IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
                              1575 EYE STREET, N.W.
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20005
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (202) 408-3800
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                           ---------------------------

                                    Copy to:
                            DENNIS C. SULLIVAN, ESQ.
                               SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
                         1701 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20006
                                 (202) 956-7500
                           ---------------------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

===============================================================================================================================
                                                                 PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF
                                              AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE PER UNIT    AGGREGATE OFFERING     REGISTRATION
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED          REGISTERED (1)              (2)                    PRICE               FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK, 
   PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE..............      3,000,000             $32.6875                $98,062,500        $28,928.44
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS 1 MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS OF
   IRIDIUM LLC...........................      3,000,000                N/A                      N/A                N/A
===============================================================================================================================
(1)         This Registration Statement covers (i) up to 3,000,000 shares (the
            "Shares") of Class A Common Stock of Iridium World Communications
            Ltd. ("IWCL"), par value $.01 per share (the "Class A Common
            Stock"), to be sold under the Iridium Option Plan. (the "Plan") and
            (ii) up to 3,000,000 Class 1 Membership Interests in Iridium LLC
            ("Iridium") to be issued to IWCL in connection with the sale of the
            Shares.

(2)         Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the maximum offering price has been
            calculated, solely for the purpose of determining the registration
            fee, in accordance with Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the
            high and low sales prices of the Class A Common Stock, as quoted on
            the Nasdaq National Market, on September 4, 1998.
2

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

         The information contained in Iridium World Communications Ltd.'s and
Iridium LLC's (the "Registrants") registration statement on Form S-8,
Registration File Nos. 333-38173; 333- 38173-01, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on October 17, 1997 (the "1997 S-8"), is incorporated herein
by reference.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         The information contained in the 1997 S-8 is incorporated herein by
reference. This Registration Statement relates to an amendment to the Iridium
LLC Option Plan of 1996 to increase the aggregate number of shares
issuable thereunder from 2,625,000 to 5,625,000 and to change the name of the
plan from the "Iridium LLC Option Plan of 1996" to the "Iridium Option Plan."
On January 21, 1998, the directors of Iridium LLC approved the amendment to the
Iridium Option Plan, and on May 21, 1998, the amendment to the Iridium Option
Plan was approved by Iridium World Communications Ltd.'s shareholders at 1998
Annual General Meeting.

ITEM 3.       INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents previously filed by the Registrants with the
Commission are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

         (a) The Registrants' Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997.

         (b) All other reports filed by the Registrants pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), since December 31, 1997.

         (c) The description of the Class A Common Stock contained in the
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on June 2, 1997
declared effective on June 9, 1997 pursuant to the Exchange Act.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrants pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all the securities offered
hereby have been sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, or
in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
3

ITEM 5.       INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

        The validity of the Class A Common Stock registered hereby is being
passed upon by Conyers Dill & Pearman.

ITEM 8.       EXHIBITS

The information in Item 8 "Exhibits" in the 1997 S-8 is supplemented as follows:

Exhibit
  No.         Description

5.1           Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman as to the validity of the
              shares to be issued.*

23.1          Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.*

23.2          Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman: Contained in Exhibit 5.1.

24.1          Power of Attorney:  Included on signature page.

99.1          Amended and Restated Iridium Option Plan effective as of
              July 14, 1998.*
--------------

* Filed herewith.
4

                                  SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrants certify that they have reasonable grounds to believe that they meet
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and have duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, hereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia, on September
11, 1998.

                                      IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.

                                      By:   /s/ Edward F. Staiano
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                    Edward F. Staiano
                                          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                                                Date: September 11, 1998

                                      IRIDIUM LLC

                                      By: /s/ Robert W. Kinzie
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                    Robert W. Kinzie
                                                        Chairman
                                                Date: September 11, 1998
5

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Edward F. Staiano, Robert
W. Kinzie and F. Thomas Tuttle, acting individually, as his attorney-in-fact and
agent, with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to
sign the registration statement on Form S-8 of Iridium World Communications Ltd.
and Iridium LLC and any and all amendments thereto under the Securities Act of
1933, including any and all pre-effective or post-effective amendments, and to
file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies,
approves and confirms all that his said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
NAME                                              TITLE                                         DATE
--------------------------------------------------        ------------------------------------        ----------------------
/s/ Robert W. Kinzie                                      Director of Iridium World                   September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Communications Ltd. and
                    Robert W. Kinzie                      Chairman of Iridium LLC                     
                                                                                                      
/s/Edward F. Staiano                                      Chairman and Chief Executive                September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Officer of Iridium World
                    Edward F. Staiano                     Communications Ltd. and Vice                
                                                          Chairman and Chief Executive                
                                                          Officer of Iridium LLC                      
                                                                                                      
/s/ Roy Grant                                             Chief Financial Officer of Iridium          September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        World Communications Ltd. and
                        Roy Grant                         Vice President-Chief Financial              
                                                          Officer of Iridium LLC                      
                                                                                                      
/s/ Aburizal Bakrie                                       Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                     Aburizal Bakrie                                                                  
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                    Hasan M. Binladin                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ Gordon J. Comerford                                   Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   Gordon J. Comerford                                                                
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                 Atilano de Oms Sobrinho
6
/s/ Robert A. Ferchat                                     Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                    Robert A. Ferchat                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ Alberto Finol                                         Deputy Chairman and Director of             September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Iridium World Communications
                      Alberto Finol                       Ltd. and Director of Iridium LLC            
                                                                                                      
/s/ Edward Gams                                           Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                       Edward Gams                                                                    
                                                                                                      
/s/ Durell Hillis                                         Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Durell Hillis                                                                   
                                                                                                      
/s/ Kazuo Inamori                                         Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Kazuo Inamori                                                                   
                                                                                                      
/s/ S.H. Khan                                             Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                       S. H. Khan                                                                     
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   Anatoly I. Kiselev                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ Richard L. Lesher                                     Director of Iridium World                   September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Communications Ltd. and Iridium
                    Richard L. Lesher                     LLC                                         
                                                                                                      
/s/ John F. Mitchell                                      Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                                                                                                      
                    John F. Mitchell                                                                  
/s/ Jung L. Mok                                           Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                       Jung L. Mok                                                                    
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                    Giuseppe Morganti                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ J. Michael Norris                                     Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   J. Michael Norris                                                                  
                                                                                                      
/s/ Yusai Okuyama                                         Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Yusai Okuyama                                                                   
                                                                                                      
/s/ John A. Richardson                                    Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   John A. Richardson                                                                 
                                                                                                      
                                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September __, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   Theodore H. Schell                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ William A. Schreyer                                   Director of Iridium World                   September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Communications Ltd. and Iridium
                   William A. Schreyer                    LLC
7
/s/ Sribhumi Sukhanetr                                    Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                   Sribhumi Sukhanetr                                                                 
                                                                                                      
/s/ Tao-Tsun Sun                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Tao-Tsun Sun                                                                    
                                                                                                      
/s/ Yoshiharu Yasuda                                      Director of Iridium World                   September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        Communications Ltd. and Iridium
                    Yoshiharu Yasuda                      LLC                                         
                                                                                                      
/s/ Wang Mei Yue                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Wang Mei Yue                                                                    
                                                                                                      
/s/ Peter Zaboji                                          Director of Iridium LLC                     September 11, 1998
--------------------------------------------------        
                      Peter Zaboji
8

                                EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
  No.             Description

5.1               Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman as to the validity of the 
                  shares to be issued.*

23.1              Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.*

23.2              Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman: Contained in Exhibit 5.1.

24.1              Power of Attorney:  Included on signature page.

99.1              Amended and Restated Iridium LLC Option Plan effective as of 
                  July 14, 1998.*
--------------

* Filed herewith.