- Orbcomm (satellite)
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Orbcomm Operator Orbcomm Mission type Communication Orbital elements Regime LEO Orbcomm satellites are low Earth orbit communications satellites, operated by the United States satellite communications company Orbcomm, Inc. As of 2008, 44 such satellites are in orbit.
Contents
Satellite types
Orbcomm-CDS
Orbcomm-CDS Major contractors OSC (X, CDS-1/2)
OHB-System (CDS-3)Mission type Technology Demonstration Carrier rocket Ariane 4 (X)
Pegasus (CDS-1/2)
Kosmos-3M (CDS-3)Mass 22 kg (49 lb) (X)
14 kg (31 lb) (CDS-1/2)
80 kg (180 lb) (CDS-3)Orbcomm-CDS (Concept or Capability Demonstration Satellites) are spacecraft which were launched to test equipment and communication techniques used by the other satellites. The first three CDS satellites, Orbcomm-X, CDS-1 and CDS-2, were launched before any operational satellites, in order to validate the systems to be used in the operational constellation.
Orbcomm-X, also known as Datacomm-X, was launched in 1991. It carried communications and GPS experiments, but failed to contact or respond to ground controllers after launch.[1]
CDS-3 is an operational satellite, launched in 2008, which also carries experiments for relaying signals from the United States Coast Guard Automatic Identification System through the satellite constellation.[2] As an operational satellite, it is designated Orbcomm FM-29,[2] the designation of an unlaunched satellite, which later became TacSat-1.
Orbcomm-1
Orbcomm-1 Major contractors OSC Bus MicroStar Carrier rocket Pegasus-H
Taurus
Pegasus-XL/HAPSMission duration 4 years Mass 40-45 kilograms Orbital elements Inclination 45° (mostly) Apoapsis 720 kilometres (450 mi) (mostly) Periapsis 720 kilometres (450 mi) (mostly) Orbcomm-1 satellites make up most of the current Orbcomm constellation. 43 were built, of which 35 were launched, and one more, Orbcomm FM-29, was rebuilt as TacSat-1 for the United States military.[1]
Orbcomm-QL
Orbcomm-QL Major contractors OHB-System
PO Polyot
Orbital SciencesBus Sterkh Carrier rocket Kosmos-3M Mission duration 8-10 years Mass 80 kilograms (180 lb) Orbital elements Inclination 48.45° Apoapsis 661 kilometres (411 mi) Orbcomm Quick Launch (QL) satellites are satellites which were intended to replenish the constellation. The first five such satellites were launched in 2008, with at least one more to follow at a later date. The satellites are based on the CDS-3 satellite, which was launched on the same rocket as the first five QL spacecraft. The sixth will be launched as a secondary payload to a Russian Government satellite, also on a Kosmos-3M. Orbcomm holds options for two further satellites.[3] The satellites experienced a power system anomaly, and Orbcomm said it believes that all of six of the satellites launched eventually will fail and that the company will be unable to recover them.[4]
Orbcomm-G2
Orbcomm-2 Major contractors SNC
MicroSat Systems
Argon ST
SpaceX (LSP)Carrier rocket Falcon 9 or Falcon 1e Mission duration >5 years Mass 142 kilograms (310 lb) Orbcomm Generation 2 (OG2) satellites are intended to supplement and eventually replace the current first generation constellation. As of October 2008[update], eighteen satellites had been ordered, which were planned to be launched in three groups of six between 2010 and 2014. At that time, Orbcomm held options for a further thirty OG2 spacecraft.[5] The satellites will be launched by SpaceX, using Falcon 1e rockets.[6]
The first two second-generation messaging service satellites will be launched in 2011 as secondary payload on a SpaceX Falcon 9 flight on which the primary mission contractor is NASA (second demonstration test launch of the Dragon spacecraft).[7]
"The ORBCOMM OG2 satellites are being manufactured by an industry team led by Sierra Nevada Corp and Boeing’s Argon ST subsidiary. A total of 18 ORBCOMM next-generation OG2 satellites are currently in production. ORBCOMM OG2 satellites will offer enhanced ORBCOMM messaging capabilities, increased capacity, and automatic identification systems (AIS) service. The planned Falcon 9 launch will place ORBCOMM’s first two OG2 satellites into a 52° inclined 350 by 750 km insertion orbit. The satellites’ onboard propulsion systems will then be used to circulize the orbit at 750 kilometres (470 mi)."[8]
Launches
Launch Date/Time (GMT) Carrier Rocket Launch Site Satellite Alternative
DesignationRemarks 01:46, 17 July 1991 Ariane 4 (40) ELA-2, CSG Orbcomm-X Datacomm-X Failed to contact ground 14:30, 9 February 1993[9] Pegasus NB-52B, KSC SLF Orbcomm CDS-1 OXP No longer operational 13:56, 25 April 1993 Pegasus NB-52B, Edwards AFB Orbcomm CDS-2 VSUME No longer operational 13:48, 3 April 1995[9] Pegasus-H L-1011, Vandenberg AFB Orbcomm-F1 FM1 No longer operational Orbcomm-F2 FM2 No longer operational 19:11, 23 December 1997[9] Pegasus-XL/HAPS L-1011, Wallops Island Orbcomm-A1 FM5 Orbcomm-A2 FM6 Orbcomm-A3 FM7 Orbcomm-A4 FM8 Orbcomm-A5 FM9 Orbcomm-A6 FM10 Orbcomm-A7 FM11 Orbcomm-A8 FM12 13:20, 10 February 1998 Taurus LC-576E, Vandenberg AFB Orbcomm-G1 FM3 No longer operational Orbcomm-G2 FM4 16:24, 2 August 1998[9] Pegasus-XL/HAPS L-1011, Wallops Island Orbcomm-B1 FM13 Orbcomm-B2 FM14 Orbcomm-B3 FM15 Orbcomm-B4 FM16 Orbcomm-B5 FM17 No longer operational Orbcomm-B6 FM18 Orbcomm-B7 FM19 Orbcomm-B8 FM20 05:06, 23 September 1998[9] Pegasus-XL/HAPS L-1011, Wallops Island Orbcomm-C1 FM21 Orbcomm-C2 FM22 Orbcomm-C3 FM23 Orbcomm-C4 FM24 Orbcomm-C5 FM25 Orbcomm-C6 FM26 No longer operational Orbcomm-C7 FM27 Orbcomm-C8 FM28 No longer operational 18:53, 4 December 1999[9] Pegasus-XL/HAPS L-1011, Wallops Island Orbcomm-D2 FM30 Orbcomm-D3 FM31 Orbcomm-D4 FM32 No longer operational Orbcomm-D5 FM33 No longer operational Orbcomm-D6 FM34 Orbcomm-D7 FM35 Orbcomm-D8 FM36 06:36, 19 June 2008[10] Kosmos-3M Site 107, Kapustin Yar Orbcomm CDS-3 FM29 No longer operational Orbcomm-QL1 FM37 No longer operational Orbcomm-QL2 FM38 No longer operational Orbcomm-QL3 FM39 No longer operational Orbcomm-QL4 FM40 No longer operational Orbcomm-QL5 FM41 No longer operational See also
- Globalstar
- Iridium Satellite LLC
References
- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Orbcomm-X, -CDS 1, 2 (OXP, VSUME)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orbcomm-x.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Orbcomm-CDS 3 (Orbcomm J1, Orbcomm FM29)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orbcomm-cds-3.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Orbcomm 37 - 41". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orbcomm-ql.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ Jai C.S., ORBCOMM Reaches Settlement on Satellite Insurance Claim December 28, 2009
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Orbcomm (2nd gen.)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orbcomm-2.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ "SpaceX Wins Orbcomm Contract to Launch 18 Satellite Constellation". Satellite Today. 2009-09-03. http://www.satellitetoday.com/st/topnews/SpaceX-Wins-Orbcomm-Contract-to-Launch-18-Satellite-Constellation_31968.html. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
- ^ de Selding, Peter B. (2010-11-10). "Tardy Orbcomm Satellites To Share Falcon 9 with Dragon Capsule". Space News. http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/101110-orbcomm-switching-falcon9.html. Retrieved 2011-03-15. "The first two second-generation satellites will be launched aboard a Falcon 9 scheduled to make the second demonstration launch of SpaceX’s Dragon unmanned freighter as a precursor to a multilaunch NASA contract to supply the international space station."
- ^ "ORBCOMM and SpaceX Set Plans to Launch Satellites on Next Falcon 9 Launch". RLV and Space Transport News. 2011-03-14. http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=27950. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
- ^ a b c d e f Wade, Mark. "Pegasus". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/pegasus.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ "ORBCOMM satellites launched". Space Today. 2008-06-19. http://www.spacetoday.net/Summary/4239. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
Categories:- Communications satellite constellations
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