The updated plan includes launching the first OG2 prototype satellite on the first Cargo Re-supply Services (CRS) mission in mid-2012, followed closely by an additional launch of two OG2 satellites into a high inclination orbit as a SECONDARY PAYLOAD in late 2012.
In early 2013, SpaceX plans to launch eight to twelve OG2 satellites, and the remainder of the constellation of 18 OG2 satellites is expected to be launched in 2014. All launches are expected to be on Falcon 9 rockets.
"WE ARE EXCITED TO PUT ORBCOMM'S SECOND GENERATION SATELLITES INTO ORBIT AS SCHEDULED, IN THE MOST DESIRABLE INCLINATIONS WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF RISK." said Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX. "ORBCOMM HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO LAUNCH."
"WE ARE PLEASED THAT SPACEX HAS OFFERED "ORBCOMM" THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LAUNCH TWO SATELLITES THAT WILL HELP OUR CUSTOMERS USING OUR OG2 MESSAGING SERVICES, AND ADDITIONALLY AUGMENT SERVICE TO OUR MARITIME AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AIS) CUSTOMERS THAT BENEFIT FROM COVERAGE AT HIGHER INCLINATIONS," said Marc Eisenberg CEO of ORBCOMM. "THE NET OUTCOME OF THESE REVISED LAUNCH PLANS HAS US LAUNCHING OG2 SATELLITES AT A FASTER PACE WITH LESS RISK."
Meanwhile, ORBCOMM, Inc. announced earlier this week that LUXSPACE SARL (LuxSpace), an affiliate of OHB SYSTEM AG, has confirmed that construction and testing of the LuxSpace. The VesselSat2 AIS satellite has been successfully completed. The spacecraft has been shipped to the CHINA GREAT WALL INDUSTRY CORPORATION (CGWC)'s TIAYUAN SATELLITE LAUNCH CENTER (TSLC) in the Ganso Province of the People's Republic of China. The target launch date for VesselSat2 is set for January 10, 2012.
Origin: mayan-secrets.blogspot.com
