OG2 satellites stacked on their ESPA grande ring prior to launch. Photo: SNC.

[Via Satellite 12-23-2015] Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has successfully completed the solar array deployment and initial on-orbit checkout phase for all 11 satellites launched for Orbcomm’s Generation 2 (OG2) Mission 2, which launched Dec. 21 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. SNC is the prime contractor and spacecraft bus manufacturer for OG2.

The launch used a unique configuration of three stacked EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Grande rings from Moog Space and Defense Group to carry the satellites to orbit. All 11 spacecraft, and the six launched in July 2014, include propulsion systems from Moog. Similar to management of the 2014 launch, SNC will provide Orbcomm on-orbit servicing and operations support from SNC’s satellite operations center in Louisville, Colo., in addition to on-site support provided at the Orbcomm network control center in Sterling, Va.

“The initial results of the on-orbit performance of the spacecraft have met or exceeded our performance criteria,” said Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC’s Space Systems.

The OG2 constellation is based on SNC’s SN-100 satellite bus, which uses a modular payload deck for rapid integration and highly automated scripts to test all functions. Boeing designed the payloads for the OG2 satellite network, which enable Machine-to-Machine (M2M) messaging and Automatic Identification System (AIS) services. Orbcomm expects the satellites to enter services within 60 days of launch.