Thursday May 20, 3:42 pm Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: ORBCOMM Global, L.P. ORBCOMM to Monitor Conditions Surrounding Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to Use ORBCOMM Satellites to Monitor Nuclear Radiation, Electricity and Water Conditions DULLES, Va., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- ORBCOMM Global, L.P. (ORBCOMM), the first commercial provider of global low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite data and messaging communications services, today announced that it will be working with ORBCOMM Ukraine on two programs to monitor environmental conditions surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear power station. The programs, designed by ORBCOMM Ukraine in conjunction with the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, will employ ORBCOMM monitoring equipment to collect and transmit vital sensor readings of electrical, water and radiation conditions in the Chernobyl zone. ORBCOMM Ukraine is an operating company formed by Kiev-based Transexpo Corporation, which signed a service license agreement with ORBCOMM in July 1998 for the exclusive right to market ORBCOMM services in Ukraine. Transexpo was founded in 1991 and has become Ukraine's largest security systems integrator. The first program will employ sensor equipment and 15 subscriber communicators (SCs) to monitor water flow and water pressure in artesian water wells in Slavutich, a small town at the edge of the Chernobyl zone where nuclear workers reside. The ORBCOMM SCs will monitor changes in water pressure and temperature, as well as water flow accidents, the opening and closing of water well covers and other conditions. The program is intended to modernize the region's existing water telemetry and management system at Chernobyl. The second program will employ sensor equipment and 14 SCs in the 30-km security zone surrounding Chernobyl to continuously monitor, collect and transmit data on background radiation levels, outside temperature and humidity levels, and the power voltage levels of electrical transformers within Chernobyl's electrical system. The goal of the project is to heighten awareness of critical electrical and radiation conditions in the Chernobyl region using LEO satellites. SC installation for both programs is expected to begin in June, and the programs are scheduled to start in July. ``We are proud that ORBCOMM's satellites will make these vital programs possible,'' said Scott L. Webster, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ORBCOMM. ``ORBCOMM's network of communications satellites allows cost- effective monitoring applications around the world, specifically in places where it is too costly, difficult or dangerous to send humans. Information about the conditions surrounding Chernobyl is crucial for the workers and families who live there, and this is an excellent example of how satellites are revolutionizing the communications landscape.'' ``Traditional telecommunications infrastructure is often not reliable for monitoring purposes,'' said Vladimir Mazover, President of Transexpo. ``The ORBCOMM satellites ensure that these environmental conditions will be closely monitored 24 hours a day. Overall, we hope to help improve conditions at Chernobyl and bring these services to all of the nuclear power plants in Ukraine.'' ORBCOMM provides two-way monitoring, tracking and messaging services through the world's first low-Earth orbit satellite-based data communications system. ORBCOMM applications include monitoring of fixed assets such as electric utility meters, oil and gas storage tanks, wells and pipelines and environmental projects; tracking of mobile assets such as trailers, rail cars, heavy equipment, fishing vessels, barges and government assets; and messaging services for consumers and commercial and government entities. ORBCOMM is a partnership owned by Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB - news) and Teleglobe Inc. of Canada. Teleglobe is listed on the NYSE, TSE (Toronto Stock Exchange) and ME (Montreal Exchange) under the TGO symbol. Orbital is a space technology company that designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of space products and satellite-based services. Orbital's experience includes carrying out more than 220 satellite, rocket and space payload missions during the past 15 years. Teleglobe Inc. is recognized as a world leader in global telecommunications. The Teleglobe network links North America with more than 240 countries and territories. This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding ORBCOMM's expected commercial operations. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and ORBCOMM's actual results and operations may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. For a description of factors that may cause ORBCOMM's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements, please consult the Securities and Exchange Act filings of ORBCOMM Global, L.P. For more information on ORBCOMM services, please call 1-800-ORBCOMM, or visit the ORBCOMM web site at www.orbcomm.com. SOURCE: ORBCOMM Global, L.P. ------------------------- More Quotes and News: Orbital Sciences Corp (NYSE:ORB - news) Related News Categories: aerospace/defense, computers, telecom, utilities -------------------------