Orbcomm Satellites

In July 2006 OHB-System AG has been awarded a contract for the construction of six satellite buses as well as the integration and launch of the six Orbcomm Quick Launch communications satellites by US satellite operator ORBCOMM Inc. The contract includes options for the construction of two additional satellite buses. ORBCOMM awarded OHB-System the contract after an international competitive bidding process. OHB-System will be performing integration and function-testing of the satellites in Bremen. They are being constructed in conjunction with the COSMOS Space Systems AG joint venture. Omsk, Russia-based partner Polyot will be supplying the satellite buses and handling the launching procedures. ORBCOMM has contracted with Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, Virginia for the development and production of six communications payloads.

Bremen-based space technology company OHB-System AG has been awarded a contract in March 2005 by U.S. satellite operator ORBCOMM Inc. to participate in the development and construction of the Orbcomm-CDS 3 (Concept Demonstration Satellite) satellite with a secondary U.S. Coast Guard AIS-receiver. This Orbcomm-CDS 3 satellite was to provide standard ORBCOMM service, and was also to have a U.S. Coast Guard payload to support their Automatic Identification System (AIS). This satellite was to receive signals emitted from vessels, enhancing U.S. Coast Guard monitoring techniques as part of their homeland security initiatives. This satellite was scheduled to be launched in early 2006 on board the russian Kosmos-3M carrier rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, but the launch was delayed until 2008.