Soyuz liftoff with six Globalstar satellites is set for July 11 from Baikonur Cosmodrome

June 27, 2011

The next Arianespace/Starsem Soyuz launch with Globalstar’s second-generation satellites is on schedule for a July 11 liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, as all six spacecraft have been fueled and integrated on their dispenser system.

This will be the second such mission conducted for Arianespace by its Starsem affiliate, and is to be followed by two more flights before year-end.

The second-generation Globalstar satellites were built by Thales Alenia Space and are trapezoidal in shape to allow their installation on the Soyuz’ conical-shaped dispenser.

Globalstar has contracted with Arianespace to conduct a series of four Soyuz launches, each of which will carry six of the second-generation satellites for a total of 24 spacecraft.

Once this new constellation is fully deployed, it will support Globalstar’s mobile satellite voice and data services for commercial and government customers in more than 120 countries.

Follow Starsem’s ST23 mission activity with the update stories: Soyuz delivers six satellites for Globalstar’s constellation on an Arianespace-Starsem mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome(July 13, 2011) The Globalstar mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome with Soyuz is reset for July 13 (July 12, 2011) Soyuz launch with Globalstar second-generation satellites is postponed (July 11, 2011) Final Soyuz launcher integration is underway for the next Globalstar mission from Kazakhstan (July 7, 2011) Globalstar’s six-satellite “cluster” is integrated for the upcoming Soyuz launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome (July 1, 2011) Launch delay for Soyuz Flight ST23 (April 11, 2011) Processing is underway for Globalstar's second-generation satellites to be launched by Soyuz in May (April 1, 2011) The second Soyuz launch campaign with Globalstar second-generation satellites has begun at Baikonur Cosmodrome (March 22, 2011)