ORBCOMM is the exclusive licensee for the AIS data collected by VesselSat1. AIS data is used for ship tracking and other maritime navigational and safety efforts. After successful completion of in-orbit testing and check-out, VesselSat1 will expand the coverage of ORBCOMM’s satellite AIS service in the equatorial region, where there is significant shipping activity and critical need for maritime surveillance. This satellite will also provide additional capacity, higher refresh rates and improved message delivery speeds for ORBCOMM AIS users worldwide. In addition, VesselSat1 and VesselSat2, which is planned to be launched later this year, will supplement ORBCOMM’s next generation (OG2) constellation of 18 AIS-enabled satellites that currently are under construction. These two AIS-only satellites will have equatorial and polar orbits, respectively and provide ideal complements to the OG2 constellation. Read More
