Globalstar's second-generation satellites are integrated on the Soyuz upper stage

October 8, 2010

The dispenser with its six Globalstar second-generation satellites is installed atop Soyuz’ Fregat upper stage during integration activity at Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Payload integration for Arianespace’s upcoming Soyuz mission is nearly complete, as the dispenser with its six Globalstar satellites has been installed on the launcher’s Fregat upper stage at Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The October 19 flight will be performed for Arianespace by its Starsem affiliate, and the integration of the dispenser with its satellite cluster on Fregat was completed yesterday in Starsem’s Upper Composite Integration Facility (UCIF) – located at Baikonur Cosmodrome’s Site 112 facility.

This step clears the way for the dispenser’s encapsulation in the Soyuz ST payload fairing, which is planned for the weekend.

Arianespace has been contracted to perform four Soyuz launches carrying six satellites each – further building Globalstar’s constellation with these 24 second-generation spacecraft.  Their deployment will secure the company’s space segment beyond 2025, ensuring continuity for its mobile satellite voice and data services provided to businesses, governments and consumers.

Globalstar’s second-generation satellites will have a liftoff mass of approximately 700 kg. each, and are fitted with 16 transponders from C- to S-band, along with 16 receivers from L- to C-band. 

Arianespace's Globalstar missions will use the Soyuz 2 evolved version of Russia’s venerable medium-lift workhorse launcher, which incorporates the enlarged ST payload fairing and an updated digital flight control system.  Soyuz 2 is the same vehicle that Arianespace will utilize at the Spaceport in French Guiana, operating side-by-side with its heavyweight Ariane 5 and Vega lightweight launchers.

These four new missions follow eight flights performed by Starsem from 1999 to 2007 using an earlier Soyuz version to orbit a total of 32 first-generation Globalstar spacecraft.  Each of those launches orbited four of the 450-kg. satellites.

Follow Starsem’s ST22 mission activity with the update stories: Soyuz delivers: Six satellites are orbited for Globalstar’s second-generation constellation (October 19, 2010) Liftoff of Soyuz mission with six Globalstar satellites (October 19, 2010) Soyuz moves to the launch pad with its six Globalstar second-generation satellites (October 16, 2010) Assembly of the Soyuz 2 launcher is complete for its upcoming Globalstar mission (October 15, 2010) Launcher integration moves into final phase for the Soyuz 2 mission with six Globalstar satellites (October 14, 2010) Globalstar’s six satellites are encapsulated for their upcoming Soyuz mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome (October 11, 2010) Integration is complete with the six Globalstar satellites for Soyuz’ mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome this month (October 1, 2010) Globalstar's six second-generation satellites are readied for Soyuz launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Septembet 7, 2010) Initial Soyuz mission with Globalstar second-generation satellites is being readied for an October liftoff from Baikonur Cosmodrome (August 27, 2010) For additional information on the ST22 mission, read the Launch Kit.