Orbital also announced that the next launch of its Pegasus rocket, originally scheduled for late this week, has been delayed by the poor weather conditions on the West Coast that are forecasted to continue for the next several days. The combination of the inclement conditions and a busy launch schedule from VAFB facilities is expected to result in a new Pegasus launch date after the Taurus mission.

On launch day, the Taurus rocket will be prepared for its mission during a four-hour countdown procedure. The vehicle will then ignite its first stage rocket motor, lift off and follow a preprogrammed launch sequence controlled by its on-board flight computer. Taurus will first deliver the GFO satellite into its planned polar orbit at an altitude of 779 by 790 kilometers inclined at 108 degrees. The rocket will then release the two ORBCOMM satellites into approximately the same orbit. The launch is scheduled to occur at approximately 7:00 a.m. Pacific time on Monday (February 9), with another available opportunity at the same time on Tuesday (February 10). The launch window extends from approximately 5:00 a.m. to 7:35 a.m. on both days. Due to the trajectory of the Taurus rocket, initial communications with the GFO and ORBCOMM satellites are not expected to be established for several hours after their release from the launch vehicle.

The Taurus Launch System

Orbital developed the ground-launched Taurus vehicle to provide a cost- effective, reliable means of launching satellites weighing up to 3,000 pounds into low-Earth, or up to 800 pounds into geosynchronous Earth orbit. Taurus incorporates advanced structural and avionics technology proven on Pegasus and other operational launch systems and is designed for easy transportability, offering customers rapid-response launches from a wide range of locations.

The first Taurus launch occurred in March 1994 and placed two U.S. Department of Defense satellites precisely into their target orbits. Since then, Orbital has developed an upgraded Taurus vehicle to meet the need for greater performance and payload volume. The vehicle being used for the GFO/ORBCOMM mission has several different features compared to the original Taurus configuration, including a larger payload fairing (92 inch versus 62 inch diameter) and a more powerful first stage, the commercial Castor 120 motor built by Thiokol Corporation [NYSE:TKC - news].

The GFO Satellite

The 813 lb. GFO satellite was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. for the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. The satellite will use a radar altimeter and a water vapor radiometer to precisely measure the subtle differences in sea surface height associated with ocean currents and eddies. The altimeter will also provide information about wave height and sea and glacier ice. GFO will transmit this oceanographic information directly to ships at sea and to Navy facilities on shore. The data from the mission is intended to enhance the effectiveness of Navy weapon and sensor systems.

The ORBCOMM Satellites

The two ORBCOMM satellites to be launched aboard Taurus will bring the total number of satellites in the low-orbit constellation of data communications satellites to 12. The first two satellites were launched on a Pegasus rocket in April 1995, followed by a recent launch of eight more on another Pegasus in December 1997. Twenty-four more ORBCOMM satellites are currently in production at Orbital's Germantown, Md. satellite manufacturing facility.

The ORBCOMM satellites are based on Orbital's flight-proven MicroStar(TM) spacecraft platform. After the first launch in 1995, Orbital took advantage of the latest technology to make the newer models even more robust and durable than the original versions. These satellites incorporate improvements that will increase their on-orbit life as well as expand ORBCOMM's overall system capacity. At the same time, Orbital's use of new materials and components has allowed the weight of each satellite to be reduced by 10% to approximately 90 lbs.

Following the launch, the two ORBCOMM satellites will undergo standard spacecraft checkout procedures to ensure that they are operating as planned, as well as to make adjustments to their orbital positions using small onboard thrusters. Like the first two ORBCOMM satellites, which were also launched into a polar orbit, these satellites will increase total communications system coverage over the higher latitude regions of the Earth. The satellites are expected to be placed into commercial service about 90 days after launch.

The ORBCOMM Network

ORBCOMM Global, L.P. is a partnership of Orbital, which owns 50% of the company, Teleglobe Inc. [NYSE:TGO - news] of Canada and TRI Inc. of Malaysia. ORBCOMM is the world's first mobile satellite services provider offering two-way data and messaging communications globally through a network of international service licensees, covering over 90 countries, and in North America through more than 35 value-added resellers and direct sales channels. It is fully licensed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and is currently providing communications services in the U.S. and Canada. It has also been granted spectrum worldwide by the International Telecommunications Union.

Applications for ORBCOMM's data and messaging services include mobile industrial asset tracking and fixed-site monitoring. With its two operational satellites that were launched in 1995, ORBCOMM currently offers global data communications services to customers in the transportation, marine, oil and gas, utility, heavy equipment and defense-related industries. As more satellites are deployed and the system's coverage increases, ORBCOMM expects to develop applications for the two-way personal messaging and paging markets.

ORBCOMM maintains its corporate and administrative offices, as well as its state-of-the-art Network Control Center, in Dulles, Va., approximately 30 miles outside of Washington, D.C. It currently operates four gateway ground stations in the U.S., and is constructing and activating additional ground stations in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America this year.

About Orbital

Orbital is one of the ten largest space-related companies in North America, with 1997 sales of over $600 million and a work force of 4,000 people. The company is the world's leading manufacturer of low-cost space systems and products. Through its ORBCOMM and ORBIMAGE subsidiaries, Orbital is also a pioneering operator of satellite networks that provide communications and imagery services to customers all around the world.

Since its founding in 1982, Orbital (including several predecessor companies) has built and launched, or now has on order, nearly 350 small- and medium-class satellites and small launch vehicles. It has also produced over 15,000 space-related sensors and electronics systems and has installed satellite ground stations in more than 25 countries.

The company's Magellan subsidiary is the world's premier producer of mobile satellite access products. Magellan offers the broadest line of products that use the Global Positioning System (GPS), from hand-held consumer models that retail for $99 to advanced technology, high-precision units for industrial and scientific uses. Using GPS and other technologies, Magellan's PathMaster(TM) is the most popular satellite-based car navigation system in the U.S., with over 10,000 units installed. In addition, Magellan produces state-of-the-art satellite communications products, including satellite telephones and hand-held personal messaging units for the ORBCOMM network.