The satellite recently completed testing and was shipped to SpaceX’s launch site at Cape Canaveral, Fla. The OG2 prototype satellite will be prepared for a launch on the Cargo Re-supply Services (CRS) mission currently targeted for Oct.
    Orbcomm said the completion of the satellite’s testing verifies that all equipment meets its technical specifications and safety requirements. The OG2 prototype is the first of Orbcomm’s next generation of satellites, which aims to add new features and services, enhance network performance and improve global coverage. The satellite be equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) payload to receive and report transmissions from AIS-equipped vessels for ship tracking and other maritime navigational and safety efforts.

    “The deployment of this first OG2 satellite marks a historic milestone in the evolution of our global M2M network and solidifies Orbcomm as the standout leader in providing integrated M2M communications services to customers around the world,” Orbcomm CEO Marc Eisenberg said in a statement. “The launch of our first OG2 satellite will bring us one step closer to our goal of delivering an even higher level of functionality, performance and service.”