For those here who are following G* and/or Loral as potential gorilla/royalty.
Fifth Successful Launch Adds Four More Satellites to Globalstar Constellation
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 1999--
Company Maintaining Aggressive Launch Schedule to Ensure Timely
Service Launch
Globalstar (NASDAQ:GSTRF) today announced the successful launch of an additional four low- earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites into space, bringing the total number of Globalstar satellites that have been successfully launched to 20. Globalstar's satellites, manufactured by prime contractor Space Systems/Loral, were launched on April 14, at 8:46 p.m. EDT, aboard a Soyuz-Ikar launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
All four Globalstar satellites were separated from the upper stage at an altitude of 920 kilometers (571 miles) above the Earth. Engineers at Globalstar's ground control center in San Jose, Calif., acquired the satellites' signals at 12:29 a.m. EDT, April 15, using the six Globalstar telemetry command unit gateways located in Aussaguel, France; Yeoju, South Korea; Dubbo, Australia; Bosque Allegre, Argentina; Delareyville, South Africa; and Clifton, Texas. During the next several weeks, Globalstar engineering teams will raise the satellites to their operational altitude of 1,414 kilometers (878 miles).
"With this, our third successful launch this year, we remain right on schedule with our plan to initiate service in the third quarter of 1999, using an initial 32-satellite constellation," said Bernard L. Schwartz, chairman and chief executive officer of Globalstar. "Launches are scheduled to continue once a month from now until December when the full Globalstar constellation is complete."
The Globalstar system will provide affordable satellite-based personal communications services to a broad range of subscribers and users. Globalstar's service will enable people to make and receive phone calls, short messages, e-mails and other data messages practically anywhere in the world. Globalstar plans to have at least 32 satellites in orbit in order to start commercial service later this year, and to have 52 satellites in space by the end of 1999, including four in-orbit spares.
Globalstar, led by founding partner Loral Space & Communications, is a partnership of the world's leading telecommunications service providers and equipment manufacturers, including Qualcomm Incorporated, AirTouch Communications, Alcatel, Alenia, China Telecom (HK), DACOM, Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Elsacom (a Finmeccanica/Elsag Bailey Company), France Telecom, Hyundai, Space Systems/Loral and Vodafone. For more information, visit Globalstar's web site at www.globalstar.com
Loral Space & Communications (NYSE:LOR) is a high technology company that primarily concentrates on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services, including broadcast transponder leasing and value-added services, domestic and international corporate data networks, global wireless telephony, broadband data transmission and content services, Internet services, and international direct-to-home satellite services. For more information, visit Loral's web site at www.loral.com |
