In a move that will provide unprecedented global voice and data mobile communications, Inmarsat has contracted with Astrium for three manufactured Eurostar 3000s to add to its current mixed fleet of nine spacecraft.

The jointly developed Inmarsat/Storm Satellite Support System (I4S) will allow Inmarsat to continue utilizing a highly automated command and control system, which reduces the manpower and operational costs per satellite while minimizing the risk of human error associated with repetitive tasks and routine operations.

As the market leader in automated satellite command and control software, L-3 Storm was first selected by Inmarsat in 1995 to automate activities for the company�s growing fleet of spacecraft. Live operations began in 1996 on four Inmarsat-2 spacecraft with L-3 Storm�s InControl solution performing ranging, maneuvers and eclipse operations.

As five new Inmarsat-3 spacecraft were added to the fleet, Inmarsat began to automate many spacecraft support functions. By 1998, Inmarsat was performing fully automated operations for its entire fleet of nine spacecraft, four remote tracking stations and two satellite simulators, relying on just one operator per shift.

I4S offers a full suite of software products for telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), bringing together L-3 Storm�s core command and control solution and the satellite operations products that Inmarsat has developed for internal use based on its many years of satellite operations expertise.

L-3 Storm and Inmarsat recently agreed to make the technology commercially available. Together, the two companies represent an exceptional level of experience and technology within the space industry, as demonstrated by their extensive operations and number of installations worldwide.

Michael Butler, managing director of Inmarsat Ltd, said, "Our next-generation Inmarsat-4 satellites are expected to be the largest commercial communications satellites ever launched, taking us to a new dimension in terms of what is possible in spacecraft technology.

"L-3 Storm has an excellent track record in command and control solutions, and we look forward to continuing and expanding our successful relationship with them."

Mayank Patel, director of European operations for L-3 Storm, said, "As Inmarsat expands its fleet to add further capacity, L-3 Storm's evolving, leading-edge product line, in particular, our highly efficient fleet management capability, will continue to meet our customers� increasingly complex requirements."

L-3 Storm offers end-to-end solutions for spacecraft command and control, payload processing, satellite integration, network management and remote equipment control. Storm solutions are characterized by the ability of a single system to control constellations comprised of several different types and models.

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