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To: MileHigh who wrote (51615)	11/24/1999 10:21:00 AM
From: Kent Rattey	Respond to of 152472

Globalstar Completes Constellation 11/23/99 The low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication market has been plagued over the past few months. Financial problems in companies such as Iridium and ICO Global Communications have placed doubts in the minds of industry members and investors about the viability of this technology in the overall market. Despite these industry problems, Globalstar continues to forge ahead in its quest to launch a 48-satellite LEO network. Yesterday, the San Jose, CA-based company took one step closer to achieving that goal. In a release, Globalstar said it has successfully launched an additional four satellites into space. This brings the number of Globalstar satellites in space to 48, thus completing the company's LEO constellation. Globalstar's 48-satellite low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellation is designed to deliver personal communication services to users throughout the world. These services include the delivery of phone, data, messaging, fax, and position location services. "Another significant Globalstar milestone has been achieved with this launch, the tenth this year," says Bernard Schwartz, Globalstar chairman and CEO. "We have a full complement of 48 satellites supporting our roll-out of commercial service and are exceedingly pleased with the satellites' health and performance." A major milestone One of the most interesting things about the completion of the 48-satellite LEO network, is the fact that Globalstar even achieved this feat. Just over a year ago, the satcom provider encountered a near-fatal blow when a rocket malfunction destroyed 12 of its satellites (see Rocket Malfunction Destroys 12 Globalstar Satellites). Despite this setback, the company said it would still rollout its LEO network. Yesterday's launch puts Globalstar on pace to achieve this goal. The latest four Globalstar satellites, manufactured by prime contractor Space Systems/Loral, were launched today at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz-Ikar launch vehicle. The satellites separated from the upper stage of the rocket at an altitude of 920 km (571 miles) above the Earth. Flight engineers at Globalstar's ground control center in San Jose, CA, subsequently acquired telemetry from the satellites using the six Globalstar command unit gateways located in Aussaguel, France; Yeoju, South Korea; Dubbo, Australia; Bosque Allegre, Argentina; Delareyville, South Africa; and Clifton, TX. Globalstar engineering teams will raise these satellites to their operational altitude of 1,414 kilometers (877 miles) over the next several weeks. Globalstar's service providers have already begun limited distribution of service to selected individuals during "friendly user" trials in the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, China, Korea, South Africa, and parts of Europe. When the trial period is completed in these territories, full commercial service will begin, which is expected early in the new year. Globalstar is planning one more satellite launch in January 2000. This launch will place four spare satellites in orbit, providing back up for the existing 48. They will be launched from Cape Canaveral aboard a Delta II rocket. Edited by Robert Keenan