Scarce model of the ICO (Intermediate Circular Orbit) F1 communications satellite manufactured by Hughes and Boeing, measuring 20.5″ in length and suspended atop a wooden base with nameplate to a height of 7″. The small, neatly assembled mode features two hexagonal transmit and receive arrays, as well as a pair of lengthy four-panel solar arrays. In fine condition.
ICO satellites were used in a global satellite-based mobile communications system that offered digital data and voice services as well as the satellite equivalent of third-generation (3G) wireless service, including wireless Internet and other packet-data services. The first of the 15 ICO satellites was destroyed in an unsuccessful launch on March 12, 2000, with the second ICO launched successfully aboard an Atlas-2AS rocket on June 19, 2001.
