Built by Orbital an as experimental platform for the U.S. Air Force, the MightySat I satellite was released from the Space Shuttle's "hitchhiker" payload carrier on Monday, December 14 at approximately 9:08 p.m. EST. The satellite was deployed into a circular orbit of approximately 389 kilometers altitude, inclined at 51.6 degrees. Initial communications with the satellite indicate that all systems are operating as expected.

The 135-pound MightySat I satellite is the first in a series of satellite missions by the Air Force Research Laboratory to quickly and inexpensively test new space technologies and transition them into operational use. The MightySat I satellite will test five key components:

• an all-composite satellite platform structure,
• high-efficiency, body-mounted solar cells,
• fast, low-shock separation devices,
• advanced packaging and low-power electronics, and
• a micro-particle impact detector.

The satellite is based on a standard design Orbital originally developed for previous Air Force satellite missions, including the STACKSAT, REX and RADCAL programs. The STACKSAT and REX satellites successfully validated communications systems architectures, while the RADCAL satellite was used to calibrate space radar systems.

The launch of the MightySat I satellite culminated a busy and highly successful year for Orbital's satellite and launch vehicle businesses. In 1998, the company deployed a record 20 Orbital-built satellites, including 18 spacecraft for its ORBCOMM Global, L.P. data communications affiliate. Orbital also conducted eight launches of its Pegasus and Taurus rockets, delivering 25 satellites into orbit.

In addition, the company conducted three suborbital launches for the U.S. Government, including the first launch from the new commercial spaceport at Kodiak Island, Alaska. Together, Orbital's satellite and launch vehicle groups have achieved the best record for mission reliability in the space industry during the past two years.

For the most recent satellite mission, Orbital built the MightySat I satellite bus in just 12 months at its McLean, Virginia spacecraft manufacturing facility. Following delivery of the satellite bus to the Air Force, Orbital personnel assisted with instrument integration and testing and satellite environmental testing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

With the satellite deployed from the Space Shuttle, Orbital engineers will now provide several weeks of mission operations support to the Space and Missile Systems Center Test and Evaluation Directorate, the Air Force organization that is responsible for on-orbit operations. In addition, Orbital satellite operators will staff a remote ground station at the company's Dulles, Virginia headquarters.