Sparks, Nev., July 16, 2014 – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has commenced the on-orbit checkout phase for six ORBCOMM Generation 2 (OG2) satellites, establishing communication with each satellite as planned. The satellites, which will replenish the current first generation ORBCOMM constellation, were launched on July 14, 2014 via a dedicated SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
SNC is the prime contractor and spacecraft bus manufacturer for this upgraded communication constellation leading all development and integration efforts from its Louisville, Colorado facility. The payload is provided to SNC by Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. In addition to managing the development and test of the satellite constellation, SNC also manages the early on-orbit checkout from its Louisville Satellite Operations Center in collaboration with the ORBCOMM operations team at the ORBCOMM Network Control Center (NCC) in Sterling, Virginia.
This low-Earth orbit constellation is comprised of a total of 17 satellites, all derived from SNC’s SN-100 bus. The remaining 11 satellites in the constellation are in final integration at SNC's facility in Louisville and are on track to launch as early as the end of the fourth quarter of 2014.
“This event heralds the first multiple launch of SNC’s state-of-the-art SN-100 bus platform – which demonstrates its versatility to launch in a variety of configurations,” said Mark N. Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC’s Space Systems.
Since launch, SNC has verified the solar array and antenna deployments and connectivity to ORBCOMM’s Gateway Earth Station network. Over the next several weeks SNC will verify the full system performance for Subscriber Terminal communications and operation of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) capability.
“We’d like to thank SNC and Boeing for their hard work and dedication to the OG2 program,” said Marc Eisenberg, ORBCOMM’s chief executive officer. “We look forward to leveraging SNC’s advanced satellite technology to drive growth of our global M2M applications across a diversity of market segments.”
Each OG2 satellite is designed to provide reliable and cost-effective communications for ORBCOMM and its customers with up to 12 times the performance of an OG2 satellite, further enhancing the overall performance of the ORBCOMM constellation.
About ORBCOMM Inc.
ORBCOMM is a global provider of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solutions. Its customers include Caterpillar Inc., Doosan Infracore America, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Hyundai Heavy Industries, I.D. Systems, Inc., Komatsu Ltd., Cartrack (Pty.) Ltd., and Volvo Construction Equipment, among other industry leaders. By means of a global network of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and accompanying ground infrastructure as well as our Tier One cellular partners, ORBCOMM’s low-cost and reliable two-way data communication services track, monitor and control mobile and fixed assets in our core markets: commercial transportation; heavy equipment; industrial fixed assets; marine; and homeland security.
ORBCOMM is an innovator and leading provider of tracking, monitoring and control services for the transportation market. Under its ReeferTrak®, GenTrakTM, GlobalTrak®, and CargoWatch® brands, the company provides customers with the ability to proactively monitor, manage and remotely control their cold chain and dry transport assets. Additionally, ORBCOMM provides Automatic Identification System (AIS) data services for vessel tracking and to improve maritime safety to government and commercial customers worldwide. ORBCOMM is headquartered in Rochelle Park, New Jersey and has its Innovation & Network Control Center in Sterling, Virginia. For more information, visit www.orbcomm.com.
ORBCOMM’s Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally relate to ORBCOMM’s plans, objectives and expectations for future events and include statements about ORBCOMM’s expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning ORBCOMM’s expectations, are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results, projected, expected or implied by the forward-looking statements, some of which are beyond ORBCOMM’s control, that may cause ORBCOMM’s actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, specific consideration should be given to various factors described in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in ORBCOMM’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and other documents, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ORBCOMM undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements or cautionary factors, except as required by law.
Media Contact: media.ssg@sncorp.com or Krystal Scordo at 720-407-3192
About SNC
SNC is a trusted global leader in aerospace and national security. Our innovative solutions enable connected protection through command, control and communications systems, as well as ISR, cyber, electromagnetic spectrum management, and other high capabilities for national security systems across all domains – sea, land, air, space and cyber. As a longstanding leader in defense technology, SNC is at the optimum intersection of commercial, defense and non-traditional contractors. We are one of the only privately owned mid-tier A&D contractors and we pride ourselves on our ability to invest early and often to ensure mission success on or ahead of schedule. It's part of our mission to always stay one step ahead; working on solutions today to solve the problems of tomorrow. Founded in 1963, SNC is owned by Chairwoman Eren Ozmen and CEO Fatih Ozmen.