Four Globalstar satellites launched
Posted: Sun, Oct 21, 2007, 9:26 AM ET (1326 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket placed four Globalstar communications satellites into low Earth orbit early Sunday. The Soyuz-Fregat lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:12 pm EDT Saturday (2012 GMT Saturday, 2:12 am local time Sunday) carrying four Globalstar satellites, which separated from the Fregat upper stage 102 minutes after liftoff. The four satellites will be used to augment the existing Globalstar constellation of over 40 satellites that provide global phone and data services. Four other replacement satellites were launched in May, also on a Soyuz. The eight new satellites are considered critical to Globalstar since the original satellites, launched between 1998 and 2000, are suffering from a design flaw that is degrading the performance of their communications payload. A new generation of Globalstar satellites is under development by Thales Alenia Space; the first of these satellites will be ready for launch on Soyuz rockets from Kourou, French Guiana starting in late 2009.
A Soyuz rocket placed four Globalstar communications satellites into low Earth orbit early Sunday. The Soyuz-Fregat lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:12 pm EDT Saturday (2012 GMT Saturday, 2:12 am local time Sunday) carrying four Globalstar satellites, which separated from the Fregat upper stage 102 minutes after liftoff. The four satellites will be used to augment the existing Globalstar constellation of over 40 satellites that provide global phone and data services. Four other replacement satellites were launched in May, also on a Soyuz. The eight new satellites are considered critical to Globalstar since the original satellites, launched between 1998 and 2000, are suffering from a design flaw that is degrading the performance of their communications payload. A new generation of Globalstar satellites is under development by Thales Alenia Space; the first of these satellites will be ready for launch on Soyuz rockets from Kourou, French Guiana starting in late 2009.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, July 4
Coolest spacecraft ever in orbit around L2
ESA — 4:24 am ET (0824 GMT) Moonwalker Aldrin says we should colonise Mars
The Herald — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) Interest in space memorabilia takes a leap
Financial Times — 4:22 am ET (0822 GMT) Evidence mounts that Mars was once habitable
Arizona Republic — 4:17 am ET (0817 GMT) First Moon images sent back by Nasa orbiter show incredible details just 10ft across
The Daily Mail — 4:17 am ET (0817 GMT) |