ICO Satellite Management

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(Redirected from ICO Global Communications)

ICO Satellite Management, LLC, formerly ICO Global Communications, plans to offer S-band mobile satellite services (MSS) via a satellite in geostationary orbit and auxiliary ground-based relays. In April 2005, ICO awarded the space component contract to Space Systems/Loral.^[1]

1 Corporate history
2 Early satellites
3 G1 satellite
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Corporate history

Founded in January 1995, ICO Global Communications, planned to build an MSS constellation in medium earth orbit (in two 45°-inclined orthogonal planes), and had contracted Boeing Satellite Systems (then Hughes) for 12 spacecraft in July of that year — ten operational spacecraft and two in-orbit spares. ICO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 1999, but emerged (as New ICO) in May 2000 following investments by Craig McCaw and others.

[edit] Early satellites

The first spacecraft, a Hughes HS 601 designated ICO F-1, was lost due to a Sea Launch anomaly on March 12, 2000.^[2] In September 2000, ICO contracted Hughes for three additional spacecraft, and Hughes agreed to modify the 11 remaining spacecraft from the original contract to support an ICO re-design of the system. On June 19, 2001, the second spacecraft was successfully launched by an Atlas II AS from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

[edit] G1 satellite

Lockheed Martin has announced plans to launch the ICO G1 satellite on an Atlas V launch vehicle in March 2008.^[3] The satellite is being built by Space Systems/Loral, based on the Loral 1300 platform.^[4]