Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.8

                                  Cidera, Inc.
                       2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

                Adopted by Board of Directors February 24, 2000
                   Approved by Stockholders February 24, 2000
                       Effective Date:  February 24, 2000

1.  Purpose.

    (a) The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which Employees of the
Company and certain designated Affiliates may be given an opportunity to
purchase Shares of the Company.

    (b) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of such
Employees, to secure and retain the services of new Employees and to provide
incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the
Company and its Affiliates.

    (c) The Company intends that the Rights to purchase Shares granted under the
Plan be considered options issued under an "employee stock purchase plan," as
that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the Code.

2.  Definitions.

    (a) "Affiliate" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation,
whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e)
and (f), respectively, of the Code.

    (b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

    (c) "Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

    (d) "Committee" means a committee appointed by the Board in accordance with
subsection 3(c) of the Plan.

    (e) "Company" means Cidera, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

    (f) "Director" means a member of the Board.

    (g) "Eligible Employee" means an Employee who meets the requirements set
forth in the Offering for eligibility to participate in the Offering.

    (h) "Employee" means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed
by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor
payment of a director's fee shall be sufficient to constitute "employment" by
the Company or the Affiliate.

                                       1.
<PAGE>

    (i) "Employee Stock Purchase Plan" means a plan that grants rights intended
to be options issued under an "employee stock purchase plan," as that term is
defined in Section 423(b) of the Code.

    (j) "Exchange Act" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

    (k) "Fair Market Value" means the value of a security, as determined in good
faith by the Board. Unless otherwise provided in the Offering, if the security
is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on the Nasdaq National
Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value of the security
shall be the closing sales price (rounded up where necessary to the nearest
whole cent) for such security (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as
quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest
volume of trading in the relevant security of the Company) on the trading day
which is coincident with the relevant determination date, as reported in The
Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable.

    (l) "Non-Employee Director" means a Director who either (i) is not a current
Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or subsidiary, does not receive
compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent or
subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than
as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required
under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act
("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest in any other transaction as to
which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is
not engaged in a business relationship as to which disclosure would be required
under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a "non-
employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.

    (m) "Offering" means the grant of Rights to purchase Shares under the Plan
to Eligible Employees.

    (n) "Offering Date" means a date selected by the Board for an Offering to
commence.

    (o) "Outside Director" means a Director who either (i) is not a current
employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" (within the meaning of
the Treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a
former employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" receiving
compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax qualified
pension plan), was not an officer of the Company or an "affiliated corporation"
at any time, and is not currently receiving direct or indirect remuneration from
the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for services in any capacity other
than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise considered an "outside director" for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

    (p) "Participant" means an Eligible Employee who holds an outstanding Right
granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an
outstanding Right granted under the Plan.

                                       2.
<PAGE>

    (q) "Plan" means this Cidera, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

    (r) "Purchase Date" means one or more dates established by the Board during
an Offering on which Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised and
purchases of Shares carried out in accordance with such Offering.

    (s) "Right" means an option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to the Plan.

    (t) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to
Rule 16b-3 as in effect with respect to the Company at the time discretion is
being exercised regarding the Plan.

    (u) "Securities Act" means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

    (v) "Share" means a share of the common stock of the Company.

3.  Administration.

    (a) The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates
administration to a Committee, as provided in subsection 3(c). Whether or not
the Board has delegated administration, the Board shall have the final power to
determine all questions of policy and expediency that may arise in the
administration of the Plan.

    (b) The Board (or the Committee) shall have the power, subject to, and
within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

        (i) To determine when and how Rights to purchase Shares shall be granted
and the provisions of each Offering of such Rights (which need not be
identical).

        (ii) To designate from time to time which Affiliates of the Company
shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

        (iii) To construe and interpret the Plan and Rights granted under it,
and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration.
The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or
inconsistency in the Plan, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary
or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.

        (iv) To amend the Plan on the terms of an Offering authorized under the
Plan as provided in Section 14.

        (v) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as it
deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and
its Affiliates and to carry out the intent that the Plan be treated as an
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

    (c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee of the
Board composed of two (2) or more members, all of the members of which Committee
may be, in the discretion of the Board, Non-Employee Directors and/or Outside
Directors. If administration is

                                       3.
<PAGE>

delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the
administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board,
including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of one (1) or more Directors,
including Non-Employee Directors and/or Outside Directors, any of the
administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in
this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or such a
subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The
Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan.

    (d) All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board
in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final,
binding and conclusive on all persons.

4.  Shares Subject to the Plan.

    (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments upon
changes in securities, the Shares that may be sold pursuant to Rights granted
under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate eight hundred thousand
(800,000) Shares. If any Right granted under the Plan shall for any reason
terminate without having been exercised, the Shares not purchased under such
Right shall again become available for the Plan.

    (b) The Shares subject to the Plan may be unissued Shares or Shares that
have been bought on the open market at prevailing market prices or otherwise.

5.  Grant of Rights; Offering.

    (a) The Board may from time to time grant or provide for the grant of Rights
to purchase Shares of the Company under the Plan to Eligible Employees in an
Offering on an Offering Date or Offering Dates selected by the Board. Each
Offering shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as
the Board shall deem appropriate, which shall comply with the requirements of
Section 423(b)(5) of the Code that all Employees granted Rights to purchase
Shares under the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges. The terms and
conditions of an Offering shall be incorporated by reference into the Plan and
treated as part of the Plan. The provisions of separate Offerings need not be
identical, but each Offering shall include (through incorporation of the
provisions of this Plan by reference in the document comprising the Offering or
otherwise) the period during which the Offering shall be effective, which period
shall not exceed twenty-seven (27) months beginning with the Offering Date, and
the substance of the provisions contained in Sections 6 through 9, inclusive.

    (b) If a Participant has more than one Right outstanding under the Plan,
unless he or she otherwise indicates in agreements or notices delivered
hereunder: (i) each agreement or notice delivered by that Participant will be
deemed to apply to all of his or her Rights under the Plan, and (ii) an earlier-
granted Right (or a Right with a lower exercise price, if two Rights have
identical grant dates) will be exercised to the fullest possible extent before a
later-granted Right (or a Right with a higher exercise price if two Rights have
identical grant dates) will be exercised.

                                       4.
<PAGE>

6.  Eligibility.

    (a) Rights may be granted only to Employees of the Company or, as the Board
may designate as provided in subsection 3(b), to Employees of an Affiliate.
Except as provided in subsection 6(b), an Employee shall not be eligible to be
granted Rights under the Plan unless, on the Offering Date, such Employee has
been in the employ of the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may be, for such
continuous period preceding such grant as the Board may require, but in no event
shall the required period of continuous employment be equal to or greater than
two (2) years. In addition, unless otherwise determined by the Board or the
Committee and set forth in the terms of the applicable Offering, no Employee of
the Company or any Affiliate shall be eligible to be granted rights under the
Plan unless, on the Offering Date, such Employee's customary employment with the
Company or such Affiliate is for more than twenty (20) hours per week and more
than five (5) months per calendar year.

    (b) The Board may provide that each person who, during the course of an
Offering, first becomes an Eligible Employee will, on a date or dates specified
in the Offering which coincides with the day on which such person becomes an
Eligible Employee or which occurs thereafter, receive a Right under that
Offering, which Right shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of that Offering.
Such Right shall have the same characteristics as any Rights originally granted
under that Offering, as described herein, except that:

        (i) the date on which such Right is granted shall be the "Offering Date"
of such Right for all purposes, including determination of the exercise price of
such Right;

        (ii) the period of the Offering with respect to such Right shall begin
on its Offering Date and end coincident with the end of such Offering; and

        (iii) the Board may provide that if such person first becomes an
Eligible Employee within a specified period of time before the end of the
Offering, he or she will not receive any Right under that Offering.

    (c) No Employee shall be eligible for the grant of any Rights under the Plan
if, immediately after any such Rights are granted, such Employee owns stock
possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value
of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Affiliate. For purposes of this
subsection 6(c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in
determining the stock ownership of any Employee, and stock which such Employee
may purchase under all outstanding rights and options shall be treated as stock
owned by such Employee.

    (d) An Eligible Employee may be granted Rights under the Plan only if such
Rights, together with any other Rights granted under all Employee Stock Purchase
Plans of the Company and any Affiliates, as specified by Section 423(b)(8) of
the Code, do not permit such Eligible Employee's rights to purchase Shares of
the Company or any Affiliate to accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty five
thousand dollars ($25,000) of the fair market value of such Shares (determined
at the time such Rights are granted) for each calendar year in which such Rights
are outstanding at any time.

                                       5.
<PAGE>

    (e) The Board may provide in an Offering that Employees who are highly
compensated Employees within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code
shall not be eligible to participate.

7.  Rights; Purchase Price.

    (a) On each Offering Date, each Eligible Employee, pursuant to an Offering
made under the Plan, shall be granted the Right to purchase up to the number of
Shares purchasable with a percentage designated by the Board or the Committee
not exceeding fifteen percent (15%) of such Employee's Earnings (as defined by
the Board in subparagraph 8(a)) during the period which begins on the Offering
Date (or such later date as the Board determines for a particular Offering) and
ends on the date stated in the Offering, which date shall be no later than the
end of the Offering. The Board shall establish one or more Purchase Dates during
an Offering on which Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised and
purchases of Shares carried out in accordance with such Offering.

    (b) In connection with each Offering made under the Plan, the Board may
specify a maximum amount of Shares that may be purchased by any Participant as
well as a maximum aggregate amount of Shares that may be purchased by all
Participants pursuant to such Offering. In addition, in connection with each
Offering that contains more than one Purchase Date, the Board may specify a
maximum aggregate amount of Shares which may be purchased by all Participants on
any given Purchase Date under the Offering. If the aggregate purchase of Shares
upon exercise of Rights granted under the Offering would exceed any such maximum
aggregate amount, the Board shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares
available in as nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and as it shall
deem to be equitable.

    (c) The purchase price of Shares acquired pursuant to Rights granted under
the Plan shall be not less than the lesser of:

        (i) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market
value of the Shares on the Offering Date; or

        (ii) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market
value of the Shares on the Purchase Date.

8.  Participation; Withdrawal; Termination.

        (a) An Eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan pursuant
to an Offering by delivering a participation agreement to the Company within the
time specified in the Offering, in such form as the Company provides. Each such
agreement shall authorize payroll deductions of up to the maximum percentage
specified by the Board of such Employee's Earnings during the Offering.
"Earnings" is defined as an employee's regular salary or wages (including
amounts thereof elected to be deferred by the employee, that would otherwise
have been paid, under any arrangement established by the Company that is
intended to comply with Section 125, Section 401(k), Section 402(e)(3), Section
402(h) or Section 403(b) of the Code, and also including any deferrals under a
non-qualified deferred compensation plan or

                                       6.
<PAGE>

arrangement established by the Company), and also, if determined by the Board or
the Committee and set forth in the terms of the Offering, may include any or all
of the following: (i) overtime pay, (ii) commissions, (iii) bonuses, incentive
pay, profit sharing and other remuneration paid directly to the employee, and/or
(iv) other items of remuneration not specifically excluded pursuant to the Plan.
Earnings shall not include the cost of employee benefits paid for by the Company
or an Affiliate, education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising
under any group insurance or benefit program, traveling expenses, business and
moving expense reimbursements, income received in connection with stock options,
contributions made by the Company or an Affiliate under any employee benefit
plan, and similar items of compensation, as determined by the Board or the
Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or Committee may modify the
definition of "Earnings" with respect to one or more Offerings as the Board or
Committee determines appropriate. The payroll deductions made for each
Participant shall be credited to a bookkeeping account for such Participant
under the Plan and either may be deposited with the general funds of the Company
or may be deposited in a separate account in the name of, and for the benefit
of, such Participant with a financial institution designated by the Company. To
the extent provided in the Offering, a Participant may reduce (including to
zero) or increase such payroll deductions. To the extent provided in the
Offering, a Participant may begin such payroll deductions after the beginning of
the Offering. A Participant may make additional payments into his or her account
only if specifically provided for in the Offering and only if the Participant
has not already had the maximum permitted amount withheld during the Offering.

    (b) At any time during an Offering, a Participant may terminate his or her
payroll deductions under the Plan and withdraw from the Offering by delivering
to the Company a notice of withdrawal in such form as the Company provides. Such
withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of the Offering except as
provided by the Board in the Offering. Upon such withdrawal from the Offering by
a Participant, the Company shall distribute to such Participant all of his or
her accumulated payroll deductions (reduced to the extent, if any, such
deductions have been used to acquire Shares for the Participant) under the
Offering, without interest unless otherwise specified in the Offering, and such
Participant's interest in that Offering shall be automatically terminated. A
Participant's withdrawal from an Offering will have no effect upon such
Participant's eligibility to participate in any other Offerings under the Plan
but such Participant will be required to deliver a new participation agreement
in order to participate in subsequent Offerings under the Plan.

    (c) Rights granted pursuant to any Offering under the Plan shall terminate
immediately upon cessation of any participating Employee's employment with the
Company or a designated Affiliate for any reason (subject to any post-employment
participation period required by law) or other lack of eligibility. The Company
shall distribute to such terminated Employee all of his or her accumulated
payroll deductions (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been
used to acquire Shares for the terminated Employee) under the Offering, without
interest unless otherwise specified in the Offering. If the accumulated payroll
deductions have been deposited with the Company's general funds, then the
distribution shall be made from the general funds of the Company, without
interest. If the accumulated payroll deductions have been deposited in a
separate account with a financial institution as provided in subsection 8(a),
then

                                       7.
<PAGE>

the distribution shall be made from the separate account, without interest
unless otherwise specified in the Offering.

    (d) Rights granted under the Plan shall not be transferable by a Participant
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or by a
beneficiary designation as provided in Section 15 and, otherwise during his or
her lifetime, shall be exercisable only by the person to whom such Rights are
granted.

9.  Exercise.

    (a) On each Purchase Date specified therefor in the relevant Offering, each
Participant's accumulated payroll deductions and other additional payments
specifically provided for in the Offering (without any increase for interest)
will be applied to the purchase of Shares up to the maximum amount of Shares
permitted pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Offering, at the
purchase price specified in the Offering. No fractional Shares shall be issued
upon the exercise of Rights granted under the Plan unless specifically provided
for in the Offering. The amount, if any, of accumulated payroll deductions
remaining in each participant's account after the purchase of shares which is
less than the amount required to purchase one share of Common Stock on the final
Purchase Date of an Offering shall be held in each such participant's account
for the purchase of shares under the next Offering under the Plan, unless such
participant withdraws from such next Offering, as provided in subparagraph 8(b),
or is no longer eligible to be granted rights under the Plan, as provided in
paragraph 6, in which case such amount shall be distributed to the Participant
after such final Purchase Date, without interest. The amount, if any, of
accumulated payroll deductions remaining in any participant's account after the
purchase of shares which is equal to the amount required to purchase one or more
whole shares of Common Stock on the final Purchase Date of an Offering shall be
distributed in full to the participant after such Purchase Date, without
interest.

    (b) No Rights granted under the Plan may be exercised to any extent unless
the Shares to be issued upon such exercise under the Plan (including Rights
granted thereunder) are covered by an effective registration statement pursuant
to the Securities Act and the Plan is in material compliance with all applicable
state, foreign and other securities and other laws applicable to the Plan. If on
a Purchase Date in any Offering hereunder the Plan is not so registered or in
such compliance, no Rights granted under the Plan or any Offering shall be
exercised on such Purchase Date, and the Purchase Date shall be delayed until
the Plan is subject to such an effective registration statement and such
compliance, except that the Purchase Date shall not be delayed more than twelve
(12) months and the Purchase Date shall in no event be more than twenty-seven
(27) months from the Offering Date. If, on the Purchase Date of any Offering
hereunder, as delayed to the maximum extent permissible, the Plan is not
registered and in such compliance, no Rights granted under the Plan or any
Offering shall be exercised and all payroll deductions accumulated during the
Offering (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been used to
acquire Shares) shall be distributed to the Participants, without interest
unless otherwise specified in the Offering. If the accumulated payroll
deductions have been deposited with the Company's general funds, then the
distribution shall be made from the general funds of the Company, without
interest. If the accumulated payroll deductions have been

                                       8.
<PAGE>

deposited in a separate account with a financial institution as provided in
subsection 8(a), then the distribution shall be made from the separate account,
without interest unless otherwise specified in the Offering.

10.  Covenants of the Company.

    (a) During the terms of the Rights granted under the Plan, the Company shall
ensure that the amount of Shares required to satisfy such Rights are available.

    (b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each federal, state, foreign or
other regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such
authority as may be required to issue and sell Shares upon exercise of the
Rights granted under the Plan. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is
unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority
which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale
of Shares under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for
failure to issue and sell Shares upon exercise of such Rights unless and until
such authority is obtained.

11.  Use of Proceeds from Shares.

  Proceeds from the sale of Shares pursuant to Rights granted under the Plan
shall constitute general funds of the Company.

12.  Rights as a Stockholder.

  A Participant shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the
rights of a holder with respect to, Shares subject to Rights granted under the
Plan unless and until the Participant's Shares acquired upon exercise of Rights
under the Plan are recorded in the books of the Company (or its transfer agent).

13.  Adjustments upon Changes in Securities.

    (a) If any change is made in the Shares subject to the Plan, or subject to
any Right, without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through merger,
consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock
dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating
dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate
structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the
Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the type of security and
initial maximum number of Shares subject to the Plan pursuant to subsection
4(a), the additional Shares subject to the Plan and the overall maximum of
Shares pursuant to subsection 4(b), and the outstanding Rights will be
appropriately adjusted in the type of security, number of shares, and purchase
limits of such outstanding Rights. The Board shall make such adjustments, and
its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a transaction that
does not involve the receipt of consideration by the Company.)

                                       9.
<PAGE>

    (b) Effective as of the first Offering, in the event of a Change in Control,
then, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion (i) any surviving or
acquiring corporation may assume outstanding Rights or substitute similar Rights
for those under the Plan, (ii) such Rights may continue in full force and
effect, or (iii) the Participants' accumulated payroll deductions may be used to
purchase Shares immediately prior to the transaction described above and the
Participants' Rights under the ongoing Offering terminated. In the event that no
affirmative determination is made by the Board pursuant to the preceding
sentence, then alternative (iii) shall automatically apply.

    (c) "Change in Control" means the happening of any of the following events:

        (i) A dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

        (ii) A sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company.

        (iii) A merger, reverse merger, consolidation or reorganization of the
Company with or into another corporation or other legal person, or any other
capital reorganization of the Company, including but not limited to a capital
reorganization in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the shares of the
Company entitled to vote are exchanged.

14.  Amendment of the Plan.

    (a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan.
However, except as provided in Section 13 relating to adjustments upon changes
in securities and except as to minor amendments to benefit the administration of
the Plan, to take account of a change in legislation or to obtain or maintain
favorable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for Participants or the
Company or any Affiliate, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the
stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval is necessary for
the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act and any Nasdaq or other securities exchange listing
requirements. Currently under the Code, stockholder approval within twelve (12)
months before or after the adoption of the amendment is required where the
amendment will:

        (i) Increase the amount of Shares reserved for Rights under the Plan;

        (ii) Modify the provisions as to eligibility for participation in the
Plan to the extent such modification requires stockholder approval in order for
the Plan to obtain employee stock purchase plan treatment under Section 423 of
the Code; or

        (iii) Modify the Plan in any other way if such modification requires
stockholder approval in order for the Plan to obtain employee stock purchase
plan treatment under Section 423 of the Code.

    (b) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any
respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide Employees with the
maximum benefits provided

                                      10.
<PAGE>

or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder relating to Employee Stock Purchase Plans and/or to bring
the Plan and/or Rights granted under it into compliance therewith.

    (c) Rights and obligations under any Rights granted before amendment of the
Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan, except with the consent
of the person to whom such Rights were granted, or except as necessary to comply
with any laws or governmental regulations, or except as necessary to ensure that
the Plan and/or Rights granted under the Plan comply with the requirements of
Section 423 of the Code.

15.  Designation of Beneficiary.

    (a) A Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to
receive any Shares and/or cash, if any, from the Participant's account under the
Plan in the event of such Participant's death subsequent to the end of an
Offering but prior to delivery to the Participant of such Shares and cash. In
addition, a Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is
to receive any cash from the Participant's account under the Plan in the event
of such Participant's death during an Offering.

    (b) The Participant may change such designation of beneficiary at any time
by written notice. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence
of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of
such Participant's death, the Company shall deliver such Shares and/or cash to
the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such
executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company),
the Company, in its sole discretion, may deliver such Shares and/or cash to the
spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or if
no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other
person as the Company may designate.

16.  Termination or Suspension of the Plan.

    (a) The Board in its discretion may suspend or terminate the Plan at any
time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate at the time that all of
the Shares subject to the Plan's reserve, as increased and/or adjusted from time
to time, have been issued under the terms of the Plan. No Rights may be granted
under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

    (b) Rights and obligations under any Rights granted while the Plan is in
effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan, except as
expressly provided in the Plan or with the consent of the person to whom such
Rights were granted, or except as necessary to comply with any laws or
governmental regulation, or except as necessary to ensure that the Plan and/or
Rights granted under the Plan comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the
Code.

                                      11.
<PAGE>

17.  Effective Date of Plan.

     The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no Rights
granted under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan has been
approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or
after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, which date may be prior to the
effective date set by the Board.

                                      12.<PAGE>

                                                                Exhibit 10.9

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is made and entered into as
                                      ---------
of the 1st day of June, 1998, by and between SKYCACHE, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and DOUGLAS E. HUMPHREY (the "Employee").
                  -------                                 --------

                                    RECITALS
                                    --------

     A.  The Company desires to retain Employee to provide the services set
forth in this Agreement.

     B.  Employee is willing to provide such services to the Company on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

                                   AGREEMENT
                                   ---------

     In consideration of the promises and the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

     1.  Employment and Term.
         -------------------

         (a)  Initial Term.  The Company agrees to employ the Employee and the
              ------------
Employee agrees to work for the Company, subject to the terms and conditions
below, for an initial term of two (2) years, beginning June 1, 1998, and ending
May 31, 2000.

         (b)  Renewal.  The term of the Employee's employment shall be extended
              -------
automatically, without further action of either party, as of June 1, 2000, and
on each succeeding anniversary of that date, for terms of one (1) year, unless
on or before ninety (90) days prior to the last day of the term of the
Employee's employment or any extension thereof, the Company or the Employee
shall notify the other in writing of its intention not to renew the Employee's
employment, in which case the Employee's employment shall terminate at the end
of the original term or any extension thereof. If either party notifies the
other of its intention not to renew the Employee's employment less than ninety
(90) days prior to the end of the term of this Agreement or any extension
thereof, then such termination shall be effective ninety (90) days from such
notice. No notice of non-renewal may be given by either party after a renewal
term has commenced. Any such renewal shall be upon such terms and conditions set
forth herein, unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Employee. The
notice of non-renewal by either party shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement.

     2.  Compensation; Benefits.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this
         ----------------------
Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Employee a base salary as set forth on
Schedule A, attached hereto and made a part hereof, payable in accordance with
----------
the Company's regular payroll policies.  In addition to this base salary, the
Employee shall be entitled to the benefits and bonuses described on Schedule A,
                                                                    ----------
subject to the terms and conditions described therein.  In addition, the
Employee shall be entitled to receive such other benefits including, but not
limited to, vacation, holidays and sick leave, as the Company generally provides
to its employees holding similar positions as
<PAGE>

that of the Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company reserves the
right to adopt, amend or discontinue any employee benefit plan or policy in
accordance with then-applicable law.

     3.  Title; Duties.  The Employee shall be initially employed as President
         -------------
and Chief Executive Officer and shall perform duties that are executive in
nature, consistent with his title. The Company shall not, without Employee's
express written consent, require Employee to be based anywhere other than in
Maryland, except for required travel on the Company's business to an extent
substantially consistent with travel required of persons who hold similar
positions or have similar duties with similar companies.

     4.  Service.  The Employee will devote substantially all his working time
         -------
and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and will use his best
efforts to discharge the duties assigned to him by the Company. The foregoing
shall not, however, preclude the Employee (a) from engaging in appropriate
civic, charitable, industry or religious activities, (b) from devoting a
reasonable amount of time to private investments and other business activities
arising from such investments (other than any business that is a Competitor (as
defined below) of the Company), (c) from serving on the boards of directors of
other entities, or (d) from providing incidental assistance to family members on
matters of family business, so long as the foregoing activities and service do
not conflict with the Employee's responsibilities to the Company or the terms of
this Agreement.

     5.  Termination by the Company.
         --------------------------

         (a)  General.  The Company shall have the right to terminate this
              -------
Agreement with or without cause at any time during the term of this Agreement by
giving written notice to the Employee. The termination shall become effective on
the date specified in the notice, which termination date shall not be a date
prior to the date fourteen (14) days following the date of the notice of
termination itself.

         (b)  Cause.  In the event that the Employee is terminated for cause
              -----
as defined in Section 5(d) below), the Company shall pay the Employee the
              ------------
salary and pro rata bonus, if any, due him under this Agreement through the day
on which such termination is effective.

         (c)  Without Cause.  In addition, in the event that the Employee is
              -------------
terminated without cause, the Company shall also pay to the Employee
compensation equal to six (6) months of the Employee's base salary as of the
date of termination.

         (d)  Cause Defined.  For purposes of this Section 5, "cause" shall
              -------------                        ---------   -----
mean (i) a material breach by the Employee of any covenant or condition under
this Agreement (including the Covenant set forth in the first sentence of
Section 4 above); (ii) the commission by the Employee of any willful act
---------
constituting dishonesty, fraud, immoral or disreputable conduct which is harmful
to the Company or its reputation; (iii) any felony conviction of the Employee;
(iv) any willful act of gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably
injurious to the Company; and (v) refusal to attempt in good faith to implement
a clear and reasonable directive of the Board of Directors.

                                       2

<PAGE>

     6.  Termination by Death or Disability of the Employee.
         --------------------------------------------------

         (a)  General.  In the event of the Employee's death during the term of
              -------
this Agreement, all obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate
immediately, and the Company shall pay to the Employee's legal representatives
the salary due the Employee through the day on which his death shall have
occurred.

         (b)  Disability.  If the Employee is unable to perform his duties
              ----------
hereunder due to mental, physical or other disability for a period of ninety
(90) consecutive business days, as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, or for ninety (90) business days in any period of
twelve (12) consecutive months, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company,
at its option, by written notice to the Employee, effective on the termination
date specified in such notice, provided such termination date shall not be a
date prior to the date of the notice of termination itself. In this case, the
Company will pay the Employee the salary due him through the day on which such
termination is effective.

         (c)  Disability Insurance.  Any amounts paid the Employee pursuant to
              --------------------
disability insurance policies provided by the Company shall be offset against
the amount of salary due from the Company to the Employee hereunder during the
period of the Employee's disability.

     7.  Termination by the Employee.
         ---------------------------

         (a)  General.  The Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time,
              -------
with or without cause, by giving written notice to the Company. Any such
termination shall become effective on the date specified in such notice,
provided that the Company may elect to have such termination become effective on
a date after, but not more than, fourteen (14) days after the date of the
notice.

         (b)  Salary/Bonus.  After the date of any such termination, the
              ------------
Employee shall be entitled to the salary and pro rata bonus, if any, due him
through the day on which such termination becomes effective.

         (c)  Cause.  In addition, if the termination is with cause (as defined
              -----
in Section 7(d) below), the Company shall pay to the Employee compensation
   ------------
equal to six (6) months of the Employee's base salary as of the date of
termination.

         (d)  Cause Defined.  For purposes of this Section 7, "cause" shall
              -------------                        ---------   -----
mean (i) a material failure by the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement; or (ii) a constructive termination (as defined below). "Constructive
                                                                  -------------
termination" shall mean:
------------
              (i)    a material reduction in the Employee's salary or benefits
not agreed to by the Employee; or

              (ii)   a material change in the Employee's responsibilities not
agreed to by the Employee (other than changing the Employee's position from
President and Chief Executive Officer to Chief Technology Officer which shall
not be deemed a "constructive termination"); or
                -----------------------

                                       3

<PAGE>

              (iii)  the Company's failure to comply in any material respect
with any material term of this Agreement; or

              (iv)   a requirement that the Employee relocate to an office
outside of Maryland.

     8.  Suspension.  In the event the Company has reasonable cause to believe
         ----------
that there exists cause for termination of this Agreement as defined in
Section 5, immediately upon written notice to the Employee, the Company may, but
---------
shall not be obligated to, suspend the Employee, with pay, for a period not to
exceed two weeks, either as a disciplinary measure or in order to investigate
the Company's belief that such cause exists. No such suspension shall prevent
the Company from thereafter exercising its rights to terminate this Agreement in
accordance with its terms.

     9.  Noncompetition.
         --------------

         (a)  The Employee agrees that, during his employment hereunder, and for
a period of one (1) year after the effective date of termination of this
Agreement, he will not:

              (i)  Compete (as defined below) with the Company; or

              (ii) assist a Competitor (as defined below) of the Company by
providing consulting or other advisory services to that Competitor.

         (b)  The following terms, as used in this Section 9 shall have the
                                                   ---------
meanings set forth below:

              (i)    The Company's "Business" means development and deployment
                                   ----------
of an Internet broadcast and data delivery system using satellites, and other
businesses or services that the Company may establish from time to time during
the term of this Agreement.

              (ii)   The term "Competitor" means any firm, corporation or entity
                              ------------
that is engaged in business substantially similar to the Company's Business.

              (iii)  The term "Compete" means to engage in direct competition
                              ---------
with the Company by serving as an employee, officer, director, proprietor,
partner, stockholder or other security holder (other than a holder of securities
of a corporation listed on a national securities exchange or the securities of
which are regularly traded in the over-the-counter market, provided that the
Employee at no time owns in excess of 1% of the outstanding securities of such
corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors or other than of a
corporation in which the Employee makes passive investments through a venture
fund or similar investment vehicle) of any firm, corporation or entity that is a
Competitor of the Company.

              (iv) The term "affiliate" means any person, firm or corporation,
                             ---------
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling,
controlled by or under common control with the Company.

                                       4

<PAGE>

         (c)  The Employee further acknowledges that this Section 9 is an
                                                          ---------
independent covenant within this Agreement, and that this covenant shall survive
any termination of Agreement and shall be treated as an independent covenant for
the purposes of enforcement. With respect to this covenant, the Employee hereby
acknowledges receipt of Ten Dollars ($10.00) and other good and valuable
consideration stated herein including the consideration of his continued
employment by the Company.

         (d)  The Employee shall, during the term of this Agreement and
thereafter, notify any prospective employer of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement regarding confidentiality, nondisclosure and noncompetition.

         (e)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the
event the Employee is terminated without cause pursuant to Section 5 above or in
                                                           ---------
the event this Agreement is terminated by the Employee for cause pursuant to
Section 7 above, then the non-competition provision set forth in this Section 9
---------                                                             ---------
shall be of no force or effect unless, in addition to the severance payments
provided pursuant to Section 5(c) or Section 7(c), as applicable, the Company
                     ------------    ------------
pays the Employee an amount equal to six (6) months of base salary as of the
date of termination.

     10.  Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure.
          ----------------------------------

          (a)  The Employee shall hold in strict confidence and shall not,
either during the term of this Agreement or after the termination hereof,
disclose, directly or indirectly, to any third party, person, firm, corporation
or other entity, irrespective of whether such person or entity is a competitor
of the Company or is engaged in a business similar to that of the Company, any
trade secrets or other proprietary or confidential information of the
Company or any subsidiary or affiliate (as defined in Section 9) of the
                                                      ---------
Company (collectively, "Proprietary Information") obtained by the Employee
                        -----------------------
from or through his employment hereunder. Such Proprietary Information includes
but is not limited to Inventions (as defined below), marketing plans, product
plans, business strategies, financial information, forecasts, personnel
information and customer lists. The Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that
all Proprietary Information referred to in this Section 10 shall not be used for
                                                ----------
any purpose other than his duties hereunder and shall be deemed trade secrets
of the Company and of its subsidiaries and affiliates, as defined in Section 9,
                                                                     ---------
and that the Employee shall take such steps, undertake such actions and refrain
from taking such other actions, as mandated by the provisions hereof and by the
provisions of the Maryland Uniform Trade Secret Act. The Employee further
acknowledges that the Company's products and titles consist of copyrighted
material, and the Employee shall exercise his best efforts to prevent the use of
such copyrighted material by any person or entity which has not prior thereto
been authorized to use such information by the Company.

          (b)  The Employee further hereby agrees and acknowledges that any
disclosure of any Proprietary Information prohibited herein, or any breach of
the provisions of Section 10 of this Agreement, may result in irreparable
                  ----------
injury and damage to the Company which will not be adequately compensable in
monetary damages, that the Company will have no adequate remedy at law therefor,
and that the Company may obtain such preliminary, temporary or permanent
mandatory or restraining injunctions, orders or decrees as may be necessary to
protect the company against, or on account of, any breach by the Employee of
the provisions contained in

                                       5

<PAGE>

Sections 10 or 11.  The Employee shall reimburse the reasonable legal fees and
-----------    --
other costs incurred by the Company in enforceing the provisions of Sections 10
                                                                    -----------
and 11 of this Agreement.
    --

          (c)  The Employee further agrees that, upon termination of this
Agreement, whether voluntary or involuntary or with or without cause, the
Employee shall notify any new employer, partner, associate or any other firm or
corporation with whom the Employee shall become associated in any capacity
whatsoever of the provisions of this Section 10, and that the Company may give
                                     ----------
such notice to such firm, corporation or other person.

     11.  Assignment and Disclosure of Inventions.
          ---------------------------------------

          (a)  Disclosure.  From and after the date the Employee first became
               ----------
employed with the Company, the Employee hereby agrees to promptly disclose in
confidence to the Company all inventions, improvements, designs, original works
of authorship, formulas, processes, compositions of matter, computer software
programs, databases, mask works, and trade secrets that are directly related to
the Company's Business (as defined above) ("Inventions"), whether or not
                                            ----------
patentable, copyrightable or protectible as trade secrets, that are made or
conceived or first reduced to practice or created by the Employee, either alone
or jointly with others, during the period of the Employee's employment and in
the course of the Employee's employment.

          (b)  Assignment.  The Employee hereby acknowledges that copyrightable
               ----------
works prepared by the Employee within the scope of the Employee's employment are
"works for hire" under the Copyright Act and that the Company will be considered
the author thereof. The Employee hereby agrees that all Inventions that (a) are
developed using equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secrets of the Company,
(b) result from work performed by the Employee for the Company, or (c) directly
relate to the Company's Business (as defined above), will be the sole and
exclusive property of the Company and are hereby assigned by the Employee to the
Company. Any patent applications filed by the Company based on any Inventions
conceived of by the Employee, acting alone or jointly with others, will include
the Employee's name as inventor or co-inventor, as applicable, and will be
assigned to the Company by the Employee.

          (c)  Other Activities.  The Company and the Employee acknowledge that
               ----------------
the Employee will be involved in other business activities and investments as
permitted pursuant to Section 4 above and that Inventions shall not include
                      ---------
inventions, improvements, designs, original works of authorship, formulas,
processes, compositions of matter, computer software programs, databases, mask
works, and trade secrets that are not directly related to the Company's Business
and that are made or conceived or first reduced to practice or created by the
Employee, either alone or jointly with others, in connection with such other
business activities and investments of the Employee.

     12.  Severability.  The Company and the Employee recognize that the laws
          ------------
and public policies of the State of Maryland are subject to varying
interpretations and change. It is the intention of the Company and of the
Employee that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest
extent permissible under the laws and public policies of the State of Maryland,
but that the unenforceability (to the modification to conform to such laws or
public policies) of any provision or provisions hereof shall not render
unenforceable, or impair, the

                                       6

<PAGE>

remainder of this Agreement. Accordingly, if any provisions of this Agreement
shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, either in whole or in part,
this Agreement shall be deemed amended to delete or modify, as necessary, the
offending provision or provisions and to alter the balance of this Agreement in
order to render it valid and enforceable.

     13.  Assignment.  Neither the rights nor obligations under this Agreement
          ----------
may be assigned by either party, in whole or in part, by operation of law or
otherwise, except that it shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any
successor of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, whether by merger,
reorganization or otherwise, or any purchaser of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company.

     14.  Notices.  Any notice expressly provided for under this Agreement
          -------
shall be in writing, shall be given either manually or by mail and shall be
deemed sufficiently given when actually received by the party to be notified or
when mailed, if mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such party at their addresses as set forth below. Either party may,
by notice to the other party, given in the manner provided for herein, change
their address for receiving such notices.

          (a)  If to the Company, to:
               SkyCache, Inc.
               312 Laurel Avenue
               Laurel, Maryland  20707

          (b)  If to the Employee, to:
               Mr. Douglas E. Humphrey
               308 Montgomery Avenue
               Laurel, Maryland  20707.

     15.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be executed, construed and
          -------------
performed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland without reference
to conflict of laws principles. The parties agree that the venue for any dispute
hereunder will be the state or federal courts sitting in Prince George's County,
Maryland and the parties hereby agree to the exclusive jurisdiction thereof.

     16.  Headings.  The section headings contained in this Agreement are for
          --------
reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

     17.  Entire Agreement; Amendments.  This Agreement constitutes and embodies
          ----------------------------
the entire agreement between the parties in connection with the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and
understandings in connection with such subject matter. No covenant or condition
not expressed in this Agreement shall affect or be effective to interpret,
change or restrict this Agreement. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency
between the terms of this Agreement and the Company's policies regarding
employees, the terms of this Agreement shall supersede the conflicting or
inconsistent Company policies. No change, termination or attempted waiver of any
of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing signed by
the Employee and on behalf of the Company by an officer thereunto

                                       7

<PAGE>

duly authorized by the Company's Board of Directors. No modification, waiver,
termination, rescission, discharge or cancellation of this Agreement shall
affect the right of any party to enforce any other provision or to exercise any
right or remedy in the event of any other default.

     18.  Covenants Related to an Initial Public Offerings.  In the event the
          ------------------------------------------------
Company conducts its initial public offering of Common Stock during the term of
this Agreement, the Company agrees that the Employee shall be entitled to select
the stock certificates to be engraved in connection with such offering and that
a three person Committee comprised of the Employee, one other employee of the
Company and one representative of the Company's holders of Preferred Stock will
be entitled to determine the manner in which the directed or "friends and
family" shares are to be distributed by the underwriters.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       8

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

                              COMPANY:
                              -------

                              SKYCACHE, INC.,
                              a Delaware corporation

                              By:  /s/ Robert M. Dunham
                                   ------------------------------
                                   Robert M. Dunham
                                   Treasurer

                              EMPLOYEE:
                              --------

                              /s/ Douglas E. Humphrey
                              ---------------------------------
                              Douglas E. Humphrey

                                       9

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00003-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00003-of-00352.parquet"}]]