Technicians work on a new Globalstar satellite as it is mated to the upper stage dispenser inside the pre-launch facility at the Baikonur Cosmosdrome. (Photo courtesy of Arianespace)
These six Globalstar satellites are currently undergoing pre-launch assembly, integration, and testing at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. A total of four launches carrying six satellites each will be conducted by launch services provider Arianespace using the Soyuz launch vehicle, which has been used to successfully launch Globalstar satellites on eight previous occasions. The Company plans to integrate the 24 new 2G satellites with the eight 1G satellites launched in 2007, to form a 32 satellite constellation. Once the six new Globalstar satellites are in operational orbit, the most immediate service improvement will benefit those customers who use the Company's voice and Duplex data services. With each subsequent launch, these customers can expect a progressive return to the high reliability and service quality enjoyed before 2007.
Soyuz launch vehicle and the Globalstar satellite dispenser (prior to satellite mating) inside the Soyuz pre-launch facility in Baikonur. (Photo courtesy of Arianespace)