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Orbcomm Orders Next-Generation Satellites

By Staff Writer | May 7, 2008

[Satellite Today – 5-7-08] Orbcomm Inc. has signed a $117 million contract with Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to build 18 Orbcomm Generation 2 (OG2) satellites, Orbcomm announced May 7.    
    Each OG2 satellite will be equipped with an enhanced communications payload designed to increase subscriber capacity by up to 12 times over the current Orbcomm satellites. Orbcomm customers will be able to transmit data over the OG2 satellites at greater speeds and send larger data packets using future modems. The OG2 satellites also will be backward compatible to existing communicators.
    Orbcomm expects to choose the launch vehicle within 12 months and launch the 18 OG2 satellites in three separate missions of six satellites each between 2010 and 2011.
    The contract includes an option to purchase up to 30 additional satellites