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 communications satellites by U.S. satellite operator Orbcomm Inc.
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, Va., for the development and production of six communications payloads.
In early 2005, OHB-System received a contract for the integration, testing and launching of Orbcomm's U.S. Coast Guard concept validation satellite, scheduled to be launched in 2006.
In addition to performing the same communications tasks as Orbcomm's existing satellites, the new satellites, like the U.S. Coast Guard concept validation satellite, will be able to receive the Automatic Identification System signals for global maritime monitoring.
The contract was announced by Jerry Eisenberg, CEO of Orbcomm Inc., and Marco R. Fuchs, CEO of OHB Technology A.G., at the Orbcomm Global Solutions Conference in Leesburg, Va. The contract includes options for the construction of two additional satellite buses. Orbcomm awarded OHB-System the contract after an international competitive bidding process.
"This contract testifies to OHB's strength in the commercial satellite market," Fuchs said.
"With this contract, we expect to achieve our target of enhancing the long-term availability of our services for our customers," Eisenberg noted.
