the launch news arrives.......
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Friday July 31, 1:49 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Orbital Science Corporation
Orbital Set to Launch Eight ORBCOMM Satellites Aboard Pegasus Rocket Early Next Week
Mission to Deploy Satellites 13 through 20 In Global Data Communications Network
DULLES, Va., JULY 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB - news)announced today that it is prepared to launch the second of three
groups of eight low Earth orbit communications satellites for its ORBCOMM Global, L.P. affiliate aboard a Pegasus XL rocket early next week. The first
opportunity to conduct the mission will be on Sunday, August 2, with daily launch opportunities thereafter. On Sunday, the available launch window extends from
12:14 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a targeted launch time of 12:22 p.m.(EDT). Orbital plans to launch the ORBCOMM satellites into a circular orbit at an altitude of
818 kilometers inclined at 45 degrees to the equator. The launch schedule is subject to final preparations and testing, as well as acceptable weather conditions at the
launch site.
The eight spacecraft to be launched on this mission will bring the total number of satellites deployed for the ORBCOMM network to 20. The launch also represents
the third Pegasus mission in 1998 and the 22nd mission overall for the innovative airborne space launch system. The ORBCOMM mission will originate from the
Virginia Space Flight Center, located on Wallops Island in Southeastern Virginia.
The launch sequence is planned to take over one hour, from the time the Pegasus rocket is released from its carrier aircraft, about 100 nautical miles off the Virginia
coast, to the time that the last of the eight satellites is deployed in orbit as it passes over Western Australia. Following the launch, Orbital expects that it will take at
least 24 to 48 hours before reliable data can be assembled and reported on the basic status and health of each of the new satellites in the ORBCOMM network.
The Pegasus Launch System
Orbital's Pegasus rocket is the world's leading launch system for the deployment of small satellites into low altitude orbits. Its patented air- launch method has
enabled Orbital to conduct operations from five separate launch sites, including four in the United States and one in Europe, the first time a space launch vehicle has
provided such operational flexibility. Pegasus is carried aloft by the company-owned L-1011 ''Stargazer'' aircraft to an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet over
open ocean areas, is released and then free-falls in a horizontal position for five seconds before igniting its first stage rocket motor.
The ORBCOMM Satellites
Orbital is responsible for building and launching 36 low Earth orbit satellites for its ORBCOMM Global, L.P. affiliate. ORBCOMM is developing a global data
communications satellite system designed to allow businesses and individuals to send and receive short, low-cost messages anywhere on Earth. Based on Orbital's
flight-proven MicroStar(TM) spacecraft platform, the disc- shaped ORBCOMM satellites are uniquely designed to be stacked and launched in multiple units on the
company's Pegasus and Taurus rockets, providing cost and schedule benefits. Each satellite weighs approximately 90 pounds and is expected to have an operational
life of eight years. Twelve ORBCOMM satellites are currently in orbit, along with two other MicroStar-based satellites produced for ORBIMAGE and Teledesic,
LLC.
The ORBCOMM Network
The ORBCOMM network is fully licensed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and is currently providing data communications services throughout
North America. ORBCOMM has also been granted spectrum worldwide by the International Telecommunications Union and has established service distribution
arrangements in nearly 100 countries around the world.
ORBCOMM provides two-way monitoring, tracking and messaging services through the world's first low Earth orbit satellite-based data communications system.
Its satellite-delivered service applications include monitoring fixed assets such as electric utility meters, oil and gas storage tanks, wells and pipelines and
environmental sensors; tracking mobile assets such as commercial vehicles, trailers, rail cars, heavy equipment, fishing vessels, barges and government assets; and
providing messaging services for consumers and commercial and government entities.
About Orbital
Orbital is a space and information systems company with 1997 revenues in excess of $600 million. The company employs over 4,000 people with operations in eight
states and several international locations. Headquartered in Dulles, VA, the company designs, manufactures, operates and markets a broad range of affordable
space infrastructure systems, satellite access products and satellite services. These include satellites, launch vehicles, sensors and electronics, satellite ground systems
and software, satellite-based navigation and communications products, and satellite-delivered fixed and mobile communications and Earth imaging services.
SOURCE: Orbital Science Corporation
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