Soyuz lifts off from Baikonur Cosmodrome on the fourth and final Arianespace /Starsem mission currently contracted by Globalstar for the deployment of its second-generation satellite constellation.Wednesday's successful orbiting of six spacecraft on a Starsem Soyuz mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome marks the wrap-up of launch services currently contracted with Arianespace by Globalstar for the deployment of its second-generation constellation.
This was the fourth and final such Soyuz launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome performed on behalf of Arianespace by its Starsem affiliate, following similar missions in October 2010, July 2011 and December 2011 to fulfill Globalstar's plan of orbiting 24 second-generation satellites.
Additionally, it builds on an earlier series of eight Soyuz flights conducted by Starsem from 1999 to 2007, which deployed 32 of Globalstar's first-generation spacecraft.
"I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Globalstar for its constant confidence and support," Le Gall said. "Globalstar and Starsem have definitely formed close ties together on the path to success."
He also thanked the program partners, including Astrium; Russia's Roscosmos, TsSKB-Progress, NPO-Lavotchkin and KBOM; along with the teams at Starsem and Arianespace for today's close-out success.
Globalstar's second-generation spacecraft deployed by Soyuz weighed approximately 700 kg. each, and are three-axis-stabilised satellites built by Thales Alenia Space.
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