Orbcomm inks sat manufacture, launch pacts

(Wireless News via NewsEdge) Orbcomm has signed agreements for the manufacture and launch of at least six replenishment satellites.

According to the company, this phase of its satellite replenishment program will be carried out by two firms: Orbital Sciences and OHB-System. Together, the two contracts will deliver complete satellites for launch currently planned for the latter half of 2007. These 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 is for six satellite communications payloads and includes options for two additional payloads. The agreement with OHB-System, on the other hand, 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.

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