Thursday August 20, 11:17 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
ORBCOMM's Next Eight Communications Satellites Shipped for
September Launch
Recently Launched ORBCOMM Satellites Exhibiting Excellent In-Orbit Performance
DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 1998--ORBCOMM Global, L.P. (ORBCOMM), a provider of global low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite data and
messaging communications services, today announced that the next group of eight ORBCOMM data communications satellites have been shipped from Orbital
Sciences Corporation's manufacturing plant in Germantown, Maryland to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The eight new satellites, scheduled for launch in
late September aboard Orbital's Pegasus(R) rocket, will complete ORBCOMM's initial 28-satellite constellation. Once they are placed into service two to three
months after the launch, ORBCOMM will offer full commercial service in the United States.
In a flawless mission conducted on August 2, Orbital launched eight ORBCOMM satellites into a low-Earth orbit approximately 510 miles above the Earth. Those
satellites have successfully completed their early in-orbit check-out procedures and are performing just as expected. As a result of data gathered from initial testing,
the team of Orbital and ORBCOMM engineers has already begun the second, more extensive in-orbit testing and is well ahead of schedule in the spacecraft
check-out process.
The engineering team has determined that each of the eight recently launched satellites is reliably generating the full electrical power levels for which they are
designed, and that all solar arrays are properly deployed and are accurately tracking the sun. In addition, all eight satellites have consistently been in communications
with ORBCOMM's ground network in the U.S., managed by the Network Control Center located in Dulles, Virginia.
ORBCOMM will deploy a plane of eight additional satellites over the equator in mid-1999, bringing the constellation to 36 LEO satellites, which will enhance
service in the world's equatorial regions and increase the overall system capacity. ORBCOMM is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate a
constellation of up to 48 satellites, though launch plans for the additional 12 satellites have not been finalized.
ORBCOMM provides two-way monitoring, tracking and messaging services through the world's first low-Earth orbit satellite-based data communications system.
ORBCOMM applications include monitoring of fixed assets such as electric utility meters, oil and gas storage tanks, wells and pipelines and environmental projects;
tracking of mobile assets such as commercial vehicles, trailers, rail cars, heavy equipment, fishing vessels, barges and government assets; and messaging services for
consumers and commercial and government entities.
ORBCOMM is a partnership owned by Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE:ORB - news), Teleglobe Inc. of Canada (NYSE and Montreal: TGO - news news)
and Technology Resources Industries Bhd. of Malaysia. Orbital is a space technology company that designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of space
products and satellite-based services. Teleglobe Inc. is recognized as a world leader in the intercontinental telecommunications industry. The Teleglobe network
includes submarine cables and satellite facilities linking North America with over 240 countries and territories. Technology Resources Industries Bhd., a publicly
traded holding company, controls the largest cellular operator in Malaysia.
This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding ORBCOMM's expected commercial operations. These forward-looking statements
are based on a number of assumptions and ORBCOMM's actual results and operations may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
statements. For a description of factors that may cause ORBCOMM's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, please consult the Securities and Exchange Act filings of ORBCOMM Global, L.P.
For more information on ORBCOMM services, please call 1-800-ORBCOMM, or visit the ORBCOMM web site at www.orbcomm.com.
Contact:
ORBCOMM
Wende Cover, 703/406-5774
cover.wende@orbcomm.com
OR
Shandwick
Devon Nagle, 410/558-2100
dnagle@shandwick.com
More Quotes
and News:
Orbital Sciences Corp (NYSE:ORB - news)
Teleglobe Inc (NYSE:TGO - news; Montreal:TGO.M - news)
Related News Categories: aerospace/defense, computers, telecom |
