Upgraded Falcon Rocket To Be The Launch Vehicle For 18 Payloads

ORBCOMM and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) have reached an agreement for SpaceX to launch 18 ORBCOMM Generation 2 (OG2) satellites to begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2010 through 2014. SpaceX will deliver ORBCOMM's second-generation satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) for the purpose of supporting ORBCOMM's existing constellation of satellites, adding new features, and growing its global Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) offerings.

Each new satellite will be equipped with an enhanced communication payload designed to increase subscriber capacity for M2M communication up to 12 times over the current satellite constellation, increase message sizes, and include AIS detection capability. 

SpaceX plans to launch the second-generation satellites on multiple Falcon 1e launch vehicles, an enhanced version of SpaceX's Falcon 1 launch vehicle. Most recently, Falcon 1 successfully delivered the RazakSAT satellite to orbit for ATSB of Malaysia. Designed from the ground up by SpaceX, the Falcon 1e has upgraded propulsion, structures and avionics systems in order to further improve reliability and mass-to-orbit capability.

"ORBCOMM has chosen SpaceX as a launch solution that meets ORBCOMM's current requirements and potential future launch needs," said Marc Eisenberg, Chief Executive Officer of ORBCOMM. "Through this agreement ORBCOMM has a strategic launch partner that provides a valuable solution now and in the future."

SpaceX Falcon 1

"SpaceX is pleased to be ORBCOMM's choice for these important missions," said Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX.  "By leveraging the flight-proven architecture of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle, the Falcon 1e will provide the OG2 satellites with a highly reliable and cost-effective ride to orbit."

FMI: www.orbcomm.com, www.spacex.com