Billion dollar satellite plan ignites
By BBC News Online's Damian Carrington
3/10/2000
A billion dollar British-based effort to build a global constellation of mobile communication satellites lifts off on Sunday.
ICO Global Communications, headquartered in London, will place the first of their 12 satellites on board only the second commercial flight of the Sea Launch rocket system.
This uses a refitted North Sea oil rig as a platform for blasting satellites into space. By positioning the rig on the equator in the Pacific Ocean, Sea Launch can harness the full 1,600 km/h (1000 mph) rotation of the Earth to help propel a rocket into space.
This reduces the amount of energy required to put the vehicle into orbit and lowers costs. The first Sea Launch mission last October was a success.
The ICO F1 satellite is due to launch on a Zenit 3-SL rocket at 1449 GMT on Sunday, 12 March. The 2,700-kg (6,000-lb) satellite should be released from the rocket and enter orbit at 1648GMT. It will circle the planet every six hours at an altitude of 10,390 km (6,490 miles).
If successful, the satellite will be followed by 11 more, aiming for full commercial operation by the autumn of 2002. The satellites will be controlled from ICO's centre at Uxbridge, near London.
Rob Taylor, of ICO told BBC News Online: "The constellation will provide global mobile communications for data and voice. You'll be able to seamlessly communicate wherever you are in the world, however remote
"There are lots of places around the world where people and businesses don't have the e-mail, fax and internet access that we take for granted."
The network of satellites will provide net access worldwide
The initial data transfer rates will be 140 kbps, with the potential for upgrades to 384kbps.
ICO was rescued last year from financial trouble by Craig McCaw, founder of Teledesic. The company had already spent $3.1bn and Mr McCaw has pledged another $1.2bn.
However, a further $2.1bn will need to be raised for commercial services to be implemented.
The 72-hour countdown has begun, with preparations including controlled flooding of Odyssey's massive buoyancy tanks, to enhance the stability for the launch.
news.bbc.co.uk
As soon as Iridium is done, another pops up.
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