Orbital Sciences (OSC) plans to launch seven Orblink communications satellites into medium-Earth orbit in 2002 to provide global broadband services, including electronic mail, Internet access and imagery transmission.
The company has applied to the US Federal Communications Commission to operate the $900 million Orblink constellation from 9,000km circular orbits. The craft is planned to be operated using intersatellite links.
The Orblink satellites will be based on the Starbus lightweight geostationary spacecraft built by CTA Space Systems, which has been acquired by OSC.
The craft could each be launched on OSC Taurus boosters, although the larger Delta 3, Atlas 2 and Ariane 4 boosters could carry two to three at a time, says OSC.
Japan's Space Communications and Japan Satellite Systems are competing in their proposals to operate new Internet-related high- speed data satellites, the JCSAT 7 and Superbird D respectively, in only one allocated location, 110íE in geostationary orbit, in 2000.
Source: Flight International
