The Globalstar system’s software resides on the ground, not on the satellites, which means fast and easy system maintenance and upgrades. The Globalstar constellation consists of 48 LEO satellites, with an additional four satellites in orbit as spares. The satellites are placed in eight orbital planes of six satellites each, inclined at 52° to provide service on Earth from 70° North latitude to 70° South latitude. SATELLITE CONSTELLATIONĮach Globalstar satellite consists of an antenna, a trapezoidal body, two solar arrays and a magnetometer, and operates at an altitude of 1,414km (876 miles). The final launch of four spare satellites took place in January 2000. By extending their reach, Globalstar complements terrestrial networks, rather than competing with them.Ĭommercial service started in late 1999. These Globalstar partners, in turn, form alliances with additional providers.

The satellite will then relay the signal to a regional ground station where the signal travels through a terrestrial network to its final destination.Īs a wholesaler, Globalstar sells access to its system to regional and local telecom service providers around the world. In parts of the globe lacking a communications infrastructure, the handheld Globalstar unit will send a signal to a satellite overhead. Globalstar should meet the needs of cellular users and global travellers who roam outside cellular coverage areas, as well as residents of under-served markets who will use Globalstar’s fixed-site phones to satisfy their needs for basic telephony. The Globalstar system is designed to provide affordable satellite-based digital voice services to a broad range of subscribers and users. The project will try to fill the gaps between terrestrial wireless systems with low-cost, high quality digital telecommunications services. Globalstar is a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based telecommunications system founded by Loral Corporation and Qualcomm Inc.

Overview of the Delta 2 rocket's 7420 vehicle configuration used in Globalstar launches. The orbit trace shows the track Delta 2 will follow into space and telemetry coverage zones. Globalstar satellites were launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.Ī Globalstar satellite and its components.

Leostar specs