[SatNews] The Company’s Chairman and CEO said...”this represents an extremely reliable launch system and the workhorse for satellite constellation deployments! Bravo!"
Globalstar, Inc. (OTCBB:GSAT) today announced that six new second-generation Globalstar satellites were successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The Globalstar satellites lifted off aboard the Soyuz launch vehicle with the Fregat upper stage at 10:04 p.m. local Baikonur time (16:04 p.m. UTC and 11:04 a.m. EST) on Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Today's successful orbiting of six spacecraft on a Starsem Soyuz mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome marks the wrap-up of launch services currently contracted with Arianespace by Globalstar for the deployment of its second-generation constellation.
This was the fourth and final such Soyuz launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome performed on behalf of Arianespace by its Starsem affiliate, following similar missions in October 2010, July 2011 and December 2011 to fulfill Globalstar's plan of orbiting 24 second-generation satellites. Additionally, it builds on an earlier series of eight Soyuz flights conducted by Starsem from 1999 to 2007, which deployed 32 of Globalstar's first-generation spacecraft.
Launch services provider Arianespace confirmed that the upper stage accurately injected the six second-generation satellites into their targeted low Earth orbit of approximately 920 km. Globalstar reports that all six satellites have been successfully acquired following separation from the Dispenser and Fregat Upper Stage. Globalstar has begun initial satellite in-orbit testing and all six spacecraft are operating normally at this time.
These six satellites, like their predecessors, were all integrated and tested at the company’s plants in Italy and France. The payloads are built in Toulouse; the structures in Cannes; some of the side panels in Turin; the electronics units in L’Aquila, Milan and Madrid, while Milan produced the onboard computer (OBPE) and Rome the L-band antennas as well as performing the satellite integration and testing. Thales Alenia Space is also responsible for launch support services.
"I am pleased to announce the successful final launch of our second-generation constellation," said Tony Navarra, President of Global Operations for Globalstar, Inc. "In 2006, we set out to be the first mobile satellite services company to successfully deploy a second-generation constellation of LEO satellites. This extraordinary undertaking took years of dedicated effort and a singularly focused mindset to complete the mission."
Jean-Yves Le Gall, the Chairman & CEO of Arianespace and Starsem, noted that the initial Soyuz mission for Globalstar occurred almost exactly 14 years ago—on February 9, 1999—making this provider of mobile satellite voice and data services the first-ever customer for Starsem's commercial launch services with the Russian-built vehicle.
"I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Globalstar for its constant confidence and support," Le Gall said. "Globalstar and Starsem have definitely formed close ties together on the path to success." He also thanked the program partners, including Astrium; Russia's Roscosmos, TsSKB-Progress, NPO-Lavotchkin and KBOM; along with the teams at Starsem and Arianespace for today's close-out success. "Once again, we have demonstrated that Soyuz and its Fregat upper stage represent an extremely reliable launch system and the workhorse for satellite constellation deployments! Bravo!"
Jay Monroe, CEO of Globalstar, Inc., added, "We fully expect Duplex service to be restored to the high level of quality that Globalstar customers historically enjoyed. We thank all of our employees and partners who were able to make this successful launch possible, including launch services provider Arianespace and satellite contractor Thales Alenia Space."
Globalstar expects to place these final six second-generation satellites into commercial service by this summer, with the first two being raised and placed into service by the end of February. These new satellites are designed to last for 15 years, twice the lifespan of Globalstar's first-generation satellites.
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 SPOT-branded consumer products which have initiated over 2,000 rescues worldwide. Globalstar has always been known for its crystal clear, "land-line quality" voice service and for a limited time, is offering unlimited service plans for as little as $40 per month. Please visit to learn more.