<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0001021649
<NAME> ORBCOMM GLOBAL, L.P.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                           7,321
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                      4,431<F1>
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                11,752
<PP&E>                                         335,859
<DEPRECIATION>                                  20,905
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 334,704
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           55,979
<BONDS>                                        170,275
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     108,450<F2>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   334,704
<SALES>                                            924
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   924
<CGS>                                              905
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   44,322
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 3,570
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0<F3>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (46,968)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (46,968)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (46,968)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDE INVENTORIES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
<F2>REPRESENTS TOTAL PARTNERS' CAPITAL
<F3>APPROXIMATELY $18.0 MILLION HAS BEEN CAPITALIZED FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998