Orbcomm FM-17

USA

Also called: Orbcomm B5

Launch data:

Designation	25413 / 98046A
Launch date	02 Aug 1998
Launch site	WI, L-1011
Launch vehicle	Pegasus-XL + HAPS (#19)
Mission	Telecommunications
Intermediate LEO orbit:
Perigee / Apogee	813 x 824 km
Eccentricity	7.65E-04
Inclination	45 deg
Period	101.26 min

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor	OSC (Orbital Sciences Corp.)
Operator
Platform	Microstar
Mass at launch	45 kg
Dry Mass	22 kg
Diameter	1.04 m stowed
Height	0.165 m stowed
Width	2.2235 m deployed
Stabilization	gravity gradient
DC power	160 W
Design lifetime	5 yrs
Telemetry	57.6 kbps in VHF

Deploys a 3.28 m long VHF/UHF communications antenna.

Frequencies

Gateway to satellite: 148 - 149.9 MHz (57.6 kbps)
Satellite to client: 137 - 138 MHz (4.8 kbps)
Client to satellite: 148 - 149.9 MHz (2.4 kbps)
Satellite to gateway: 137 - 138 MHz (57.6 kbps)
Beacons: 400.05 - 400.15 MHz (often 400.100 MHz)
Addressing based on X400 protocol. Signals in symmetric differential PSK (SDPSK)
Plane B
Main downlink: 137.8000 MHz

Ref: #15, #226 - update: 28.11.09