Arianespace and Globalstar: The wrap-up Soyuz launch with second-generation satellites is set for February

Two of the six trapezoidal-shaped Globalstar satellites for next February’s Soyuz mission are shown the Starsem clean room facilities at Baikonur Cosmodrome (photo at left).  A head-on image details the Earth-facing side of Globalstar’s second-generation spacecraft (image at right).

November 1, 2012

Preparations are underway for the medium-lift Soyuz launch to deploy the six final spacecraft in Globalstar’s second-generation constellation, with the mission scheduled to lift off from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome next February.

This is the last of four flights contracted to Arianespace for the orbiting of Globalstar’s second-generation constellation, completing a series of launches that started in October 2010, and continuing in December and July 2011.  All of these missions are performed at Baikonur Cosmodrome by Arianespace’s Starsem affiliate.

Globalstar reports that with the 24 satellites orbited to date by Arianespace/Starsem launches, its current subscribers and new users are experiencing significantly improved performance and reliability with high voice quality, fast mobile satellite handset data speeds and affordable service.

Built by Thales Alenia Space, the Globalstar second-generation platforms are trapezoidal in shape to facilitate their integration on a purpose-built dispenser that fits under the Soyuz payload fairing.

The launch vehicles operated from Baikonur Cosmodrome use the same basic modernized Soyuz version that Arianespace introduced at the Spaceport in French Guiana during 2011, and are equipped with the ST-type fairing that has an external diameter of 4.1 meters and a length of 11.4 meters.

Next February’s Soyuz launch is designated ST26 in Arianespace’s numbering sequence to signify the 26th flight performed by its Starsem affiliate since beginning operations with a launch in 1999 that lofted four first-generation Globalstar satellites.

Follow Starsem’s ST26 mission activities: February 6, 2013 - Starsem/Arianespace completes the deployment of Globalstar’s constellation with a Soyuz mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome February 5, 2013 - Soyuz Flight ST26 with six Globalstar satellites: Postponed 24 hours due to weather conditions February 4, 2013 - Final checkout underway for the Arianespace/Starsem Soyuz launch with second-generation Globalstar spacecraft February 2, 2013 - Soyuz is ready for a close-out Baikonur Cosmodrome launch with Globalstar’s second-generation satellites January 28, 2013 - Globalstar’s second-generation satellites are encapsulated and ready for installation on their Starsem Soyuz launcher January 25, 2013 - Six Globalstar satellites get their “kick” for next month’s Arianespace/Starsem Soyuz launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome January 21, 2013 - Payload elements come together in Starsem’s wrap-up Soyuz mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome for Globalstar January 15, 2013 - Globalstar’s final batch of second-generation satellites are integrated for their Starsem mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome December 12, 2012 - Six satellites for Globalstar’s close-out Soyuz mission are ready for launch by the Starsem affiliate of Arianespace