Corporate News
7/13/06 ORBCOMM Signs Agreements With Orbital Sciences and OHB-System A.G.
ORBCOMM Signs Agreements With Orbital Sciences and OHB-System A.G. For Initial Phase of Satellite Replenishment Program
Dulles, VA, July 13, 2006 - ORBCOMM, a global satellite
data communications company, today announced that it has signed agreements
for the manufacture and launch of at least six replenishment satellites. This
phase of ORBCOMM’s satellite replenishment program is being carried
out by two firms; Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) and OHB-System
A.G. Together, these two contracts will deliver complete satellites
for launch currently planned for the latter half of 2006 as part of ORBCOMM’s
satellite replenishment program, which will replace and enhance ORBCOMM’s
Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to meet the needs of its
growing customer base.
The agreement with Orbital Sciences Corporation is for six satellite communications payloads and includes options for two additional payloads. The agreement with OHB-System A.G. includes six satellite buses, the services to integrate the buses with the Orbital Sciences payloads and launch of the satellites using a COSMOS 3M rocket.
“This is the first phase of our plans to replenish our existing fleet of satellites,” said John Stolte, ORBCOMM’s Executive Vice President, Technology and Operations. “These satellites will add several improved features to our existing fleet of low-Earth orbit, or LEO satellites and are designed to provide our customers with improved service while maintaining full compatibility with existing subscriber equipment that is deployed today. These satellites will also add Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiving capability to our satellites for the first time. They will also contain an additional set of receivers to increase the messaging capacity of each satellite.”
The AIS system is designed to facilitate the efficient broadcast of navigational data from ships to meet the need for global maritime surveillance of shipping traffic. The ORBCOMM constellation will be the first commercial space-based detection system for AIS messages, greatly expanding the capabilities of the system over today’s system of terrestrial radio towers.
In addition, ORBCOMM is in the process of evaluating suppliers for future satellites and launches that are planned to begin in 2008 as part of ORBCOMM’s Next Generation Program which is expected to put at least an additional 18 replenishment satellites into service with increased communications capabilities over their predecessors.
About ORBCOMM
ORBCOMM is a global satellite data communications company that provides reliable,
cost-effective data communications services to customers around the world
through its unique low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite network and global ground
infrastructure. A diverse customer base, including industry leaders General
Electric, Caterpillar Inc., Volvo Group, XATA, Hitachi, Komatsu and Itron,
uses ORBCOMM services to track, monitor and control mobile and fixed assets,
including trucks, containers, marine vessels, locomotives, heavy machinery,
pipelines, oil wells, utility meters and storage tanks anywhere in the
world. For more information call 1-800-ORBCOMM or visit its website
at www.ORBCOMM.com.
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small space and rocket systems
for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company's
primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-orbit,
geosynchronous-orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote
sensing, scientific and defense missions; ground- and air-launched rockets
that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are
used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related
technical services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based
transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private
vehicle fleet operators.
More information about Orbital can be found at www.orbital.com
About OHB
OHB-System A.G. is a medium-sized systems provider belonging to the listed OHB Technology A.G. group (ISIN: DE0005936124, Prime Standard), which employs more than 800 people in the areas of space technology + security, telematics and satellite services. In this connection, OHB-System AG specializes in space + security applications. OHB can look back on more than 20 years of experience in the successful development and qualification of space technology systems especially in its Small Satellites, Manned Space Flight and Orbital & Transport Systems divisions.
More information about OHB-System AG can be found at www.ohb-system.de.
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
due to a number of risks and uncertainties that may negatively impact ORBCOMM’s
business.
Media Contact:
William Molesworth, ORBCOMM, (703) 433-6506 or Molesworth.William@ORBCOMM.co