California IN BRIEF : EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE : Satellites Located in Wrong Orbit

Seven lightweight military satellites were found in the wrong orbit nine hours after a Pegasus rocket veered off course as it launched them, the Pentagon said Thursday. U.S. Space Command tracking stations determined that the Microsat communications satellites were in a near-polar orbit ranging from 221 miles to 282 miles above Earth, much lower than the planned 447-mile-high orbit. The 50-foot-long Pegasus went off course after Wednesday’s launch for Edwards Air Force Base, explaining why the satellites were in the wrong orbit and could not be found for much of the day, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency said from the Pentagon. The 49-pound satellites--each only 7 1/2 inches high by 19 inches wide--still should meet the goals of the $18-million mission, the agency said.