Quite an achievement…ORBCOMM Inc. [NASDAQ: ORBC] has announced that six new ORBCOMM satellites have been successfully launched from Kapustin Yar, Russia. The launch occurred at 2:36 a.m. EDT on June 19th. All indications are that the satellites have been successfully separated from the launch vehicle and placed into the proper orbits. Each satellite is now undergoing initial in-orbit testing and is expected to enter commercial service within the next three months. The Coast Guard and five Quick Launch satellites will be positioned to augment the existing ORBCOMM M2M constellation. They will provide additional capacity and improved message delivery speeds for current and future ORBCOMM users. In addition, these satellites are equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS) payloads that will enable them to receive and report AIS transmissions to be used for ship tracking and other navigational activities. ORBCOMM has been working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard on the AIS project. The company also intends to market AIS data to other U.S. and international government agencies, as well as to companies whose businesses require such information.
The launch of these six spacecraft is part of ORBCOMM’s long term plan to expand and upgrade its existing constellation of 29 satellites. In May 2008, ORBCOMM announced that it had signed a $117 million contract with Sierra Nevada Corporation for the design, manufacture and delivery of 18 new satellites, with an option to purchase as many as 30 more. Sierra Nevada has formed a strategic team with subcontractors that include Boeing, ITT, Argon ST and MicroSat. ORBCOMM plans to launch the 18 satellites in three separate missions of six satellites each between 2010 and 2011.
