A Russian Soyuz 2 rocket launches on Dec. 28, 2011 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan carrying six new Globalstar communications satellites into orbit. Photo courtesy of Arianespace.
....were successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Globalstar satellites were launched on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 11:09:02 p.m. local Baikonur time (5:09 p.m. UTC and 12:09 p.m. EDT) using the Soyuz-Fregat version of the Soyuz launch vehicle. With 18 new satellites now in orbit, the fourth launch is expected to restore industry leading mobile satellite voice and data services. Launch services provider Arianespace confirmed that the upper stage accurately injected the six second-generation satellites into the targeted low earth orbit of approximately 920km. Globalstar reports that all six satellites have been successfully acquired following separation of the Fregat Upper Stage and release from the satellite dispenser. Globalstar has initiated satellite in-orbit testing and all six spacecraft are operating normally at this time.
Globalstar signed a contract with satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space in late 2006 for the design, manufacture and delivery of its second-generation constellation satellites. A total of four launches of six satellites each are being conducted by Arianespace. The first launch was conducted in October 2010 and the second launch was completed in July of this year. The Globalstar second-generation satellite constellation is designed to support the Company’s current lineup of voice, Duplex and Simplex data products and services including its lineup of SPOT retail consumer products. The new satellites are designed to last for 15 years, twice the lifespan of Globalstar’s first generation satellites.
Once the four launches are complete and the second-generation satellites are deployed, Globalstar expects to provide the world’s finest quality mobile satellite voice and fastest mobile satellite handset data services to customers in more than 120 countries. Combined with its affordable suite of consumer retail SPOT products, Globalstar expects to offer the world’s most extensive lineup of high quality mobile satellite services to the broadest range of commercial and retail consumer customers around the globe.