Soyuz delivers: Six satellites are orbited for Globalstar's second-generation constellation

The medium-lift Soyuz vehicle begins its ascent from Launch Pad #6 at Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The initial cluster of six Globalstar second-generation satellites was successfully orbited today on an Arianespace Soyuz mission, which was conducted by its Starsem affiliate from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

This flight delivered the six trapezoidal-shaped spacecraft into a circular phasing orbit, utilizing the improved Soyuz version that will be introduced by Arianespace at the Spaceport in French Guiana next year.

Today’s mission is the first of four Soyuz launches booked with Arianespace to deploy a total of 24 second-generation satellites, which will support Globalstar’s current lineup of voice, Duplex and Simplex data products and services.

Once the next-generation Globalstar ground network is installed, the advanced constellation also will provide customers with enhanced future services that feature increased data speeds of 256 kbps. in a flexible Internet protocol multimedia subsystem configuration.

The Globalstar satellites lofted by Soyuz were installed on a purpose-built dispenser system that carried two spacecraft mounted on its upper section and four on the lower portion.