Orbcomm FM-28

USA

Also called: Orbcomm C8

Launch data:

Designation	25482 / 98053H
Launch date	23 Sep 1998
Launch site	WI, L-1011
Launch vehicle	Pegasus-XL HAPS (#23)
Mission	Telecommunications
Intermediate LEO orbit:
Perigee / Apogee	811 x 821 km
Eccentricity	6.96E-04
Inclination	45 deg
Period	101.21 min

Not in service in Jan 2001.

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 C
Main downlink: 137.6625 MHz

Ref: #15, #226 - update: 28.11.09