Soyuz Rocket Completes Globalstar Satellite Network With 1799th Launch

Mission accomplished - it was confirmed that all six Globalstar-2 low-orbit communication satellites, that lifted off with a Russian Soyuz-2.1a rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Wednesday, reached their planned orbits. This was announced by the launch service provider Arianespace and their Russian partners including Starsem who oversaw this 1,799th launch of a Soyuz family rocket - an astonishing number.

The companies confirmed that the Fregat orbital stage accurately injected the six Globalstar-2 satellites, after the two successive firings of the Fregat stage went according to the mission plan. After stabilization of the stage, the dispenser released 1 hour and 38 minutes after lift off the two satellites positioned in its upper section; 1 minute and 40 seconds later, the four satellites in the lower part of the dispenser were released simultaneously.

This latest success for the Soyuz launcher - and for the Fregat upper stage - clearly indicates the capabilities of the Samara Space Centre (TsSKB-Progress) and NPO Lavotchkine, as well as the skills of the operating teams working under the authority of Russian space agency Roscosmos.

Each Globalstar-2 satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space, weighs approximately 650 kg at launch. The constellation features an optimized design to provide telephone and data transmission services to businesses and individuals in more than 120 countries.

Starsem also launched 24 satellites in the Globalstar-1 constellation in 1999, while today's launch completes the second generation, with the first 18 satellites of the Globalstar-2 constellation orbited by Arianespace and Starsem in 2010 and 2011.

The grouping is expected to function until at least 2025 in an orbit a bit above 900 km - possibly there will be advanced space infrastructure ready by then to refuel and upgrade them in space. On the other hand, this will first be used on much more heavy and expensive satellites in geostationary orbit.