Brian,
Friday, July 9, 1999
Update for 3:01:38 a.m. EDT
Now two hours away from the launch of Delta 272.
The Delta 2 rocket is carrying four Globalstar communications satellites that will join 24 already in space. Globalstar plans to deploy a constellation of 48 spacecraft to provide cellular telephone and paging services worldwide. The satellites, mounted to their dispenser, were mated to the rocket last week.
A trio of Boeing Delta 2 rockets have successfully carried out three launches for Globalstar on Feb. 14 and April 24, 1998, and this past June 10. The missions placed a total of 12 satellites into space. In addition, three Starsem Soyuz rockets, each loaded with four satellites, were safely launched on Feb. 8, March 14 and April 14 of this year from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakstan.
Beyond today's launch, Boeing tentatively plans to fly Delta rockets each carrying four Globalstar satellites on July 24 and Aug. 14. That would give Globalstar enough satellites to begin initial service in the third quarter of this year.
Starsem Soyuz rockets are slated to deliver a dozen more satellites to orbit in launches slated for September, October and November. If all goes as planned, that would complete Globalstar's operational satellite fleet. Boeing would then follow with a Dec. 7 launch of four more satellites to serve as on-orbit spares.
Best,
Brian H. |
