 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Orbcomm Mid-Way Through Check-Out
Dulles Va - February 4, 1998 - Orbital Sciences Corporation announced Wednesday that the eight new Orbcomm data communications satellites launched on December 23, 1997 have completed approximately one-half of their planned orbital check-out and test operations. The company anticipates that testing will be completed and the satellites placed into commercial service by its Orbcomm Global, L.P. affiliate during March. At this point in the in-orbit check-out process, several satellites are generating lower than expected solar power levels, though the design power margins on the satellites are sufficient to allow all planned service and lifetime requirements to be met. In a recent development, one of the eight new satellites has experienced an anomaly in one of its radio transmitters. Satellite operations engineers are investigating this problem in an attempt to restore the transmitter to normal operation or to implement alternative actions to bypass the problem. All other satellite functions appear to be performing very well, with spacecraft bus and communications system testing proceeding as planned. When they are operational, these new satellites will increase Orbcomm's communications availability in the U.S. from about 90 minutes per day to over 10 hours per day. Orbital plans to launch two more Orbcomm satellites in February as secondary payloads on its Taurus rocket, followed over the next several months by two additional groups of eight Orbcomm satellites each on two Pegasus launch vehicles. As a result, by mid-1998 Orbcomm's satellite network will provide real-time commercial monitoring, tracking and messaging services to customers in the transportation, oil and gas, utility, heavy equipment and defense industries.
Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Space
Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005The successful launch Thursday of India's heaviest satellite from spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana may have boosted the country's space research efforts to yet another level, but it has also lifted the spirits of at least three Direct-To-Home televisions broadcasters, one of which has been waiting for years to launch its services in India. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
