Mobile satellite operator Globalstar has successfully launched the first six LEO spacecraft of a 48-bird constellation that will deliver voice and data services.
Launched by Arianespace and Starsem on a Soyuz rocket, the satellites will form a…
Mobile satellite operator Globalstar has successfully launched the first six LEO spacecraft of a 48-bird constellation that will deliver voice and data services.
Launched by Arianespace and Starsem on a Soyuz rocket, the satellites will form a second-generation constellation called Globalstar-2, which aims to ensure service continuity for the operator beyond 2025.
Emmanuel Grave, executive vice president for telecom activities at Thales Alenia Space, which is manufacturing the Globalstar-2 satellites, hailed the launch as a major milestone, marking Globalstar’s entry into its second-generation system.
“We are extremely proud of our role in this ambitious programme, and we hope that it will be an outstanding success,” said Grave.
“This milestone also clearly demonstrates our company’s leadership in constellations, based on proven expertise in system design and telecommunications technologies.”
Thales Alenia Space has now commenced construction of the rest of the constellation, which will be launched in batches of six at a time.
Each Globalstar-2 satellite will have 16 C- to S-band transponders, and 16 L- to C-band receivers.
Globalstar posted a widening adjusted EBITDA loss of US$2.2m for the three months to 30 September, 2010, compared with a loss of US$0.5m for the corresponding period last year. Total revenue for Q3 2010 increased to US$18.2m, compared with US$17.5m for Q3 2009.
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