Globalstar 33

USA

Launch data:

Designation: 25907 / 99049A
Launch date22 Sep 1999
Launch siteBaikonur
Launch vehicle Soyuz-U/Ikar
Mission Telecommunications
Perigee/Apogee 1400 km
Inclination 52°
Period 110 min

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor  Space Systems/Loral
Platform  LS-400
Operator 
Mass at launch  450 kg
Dry Mass 400 kg
Basic shape  trapezoidal shape
Dimension (m) 
Solar array  10.75m span (2 panels)
Stabilization  3-axis
DC power  1100 W
Design lifetime  7.5 yrs

Globalstar's payload

Capacity 2800 phone circuits
Voice 9600 bps
Fax yes
Data 9600 bps
Mobile uplink 2483.5 - 2500 MHz via 91-element phased-array antenna
Mobile downlink 1610 - 1626.5 MHz via 61-element phased-array antenna
Gateway uplink 5091 - 5250 MHz
Gateway downlink 6875 - 7055 MHz

Compatible with GSM, CDMA and AMPS.

Mission details:

Four more Globalstar satellites were launched on Sep 22. A Starsem Soyuz/Ikar rocket placed the four satellites in orbit. The 11A511U Soyuz-U took off from area 1 at 5 GIK (Baykonur). The four strapons separated 2 min after launch, and at 4 min after launch the Blok-A central core (nominally stage 2) separated. The Blok I third stage fired until 9 min after launch, entering a 235 x 906 km x 51.9 deg transfer orbit and separating from the Ikar upper stage and dispenser. At apogee Ikar burned to deploy the four satellites (M033, M050, M055, M058) in a 900 x 960 km x 51.9 deg parking orbit. Ikar later made a deorbit burn and reentered on Sep 24.
Globalstar satellite numbers which have not yet been launched are M029, M031, M034, M039, M056, and M057. The Globalstar satellites use the Space Systems/Loral LS-400 bus, built by SS-L/Palo Alto and Alenia/Roma. Globalstar will provide handheld telephone service starting in the next few months.
Ref: #7(JR408), #15 - update: 25.08.06