[Satellite TODAY 09-14-11] Global satellite Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications specialist Orbcomm has completed its contract award from LuxSpace, an affiliate of OHB System, to build and test the LuxSpace VesselSat1 AIS satellite, Orbcomm announced Sept. 13.

   The LuxSpace VesselSat1 AIS satellite was shipped to the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) launch pad at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The target launch date is set for Oct. 12.

   Orbcomm is exclusively licensed for the AIS data collected by VesselSat1, which aims to provide additional coverage in the equatorial region, and will supplement Orbcomm’s constellation of 18 AIS-enabled next generation satellites currently under construction.