Eight replenishment satellites for Globalstar’s low-Earth-orbit network reached orbit Saturday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
“This program for Globalstar marked a major transformation in our design and high-volume satellite production process.”
Mike Greenley, MDA Space
MDA Space Ltd., the Toronto company serving as prime contractor for the replenishment program, said in a news release that the satellites lifted off at 9:12 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Rocket Lab Corp., a Long Beach, California-based launch and spacecraft company, confirmed the same launch in a separate release the same day. Globalstar Inc., a provider of satellite communications and IoT services, is the customer for the constellation upgrade.
The two companies described different roles in building the spacecraft. MDA Space said it developed, integrated and tested the satellites at its Montreal facility as prime contractor. Rocket Lab said it built the underlying satellite platforms — a tailored version of its Lightning bus — under a $143 million contract with MDA Space, with the work done and tested at its Long Beach headquarters. Rocket Lab said the platforms weigh 1,102 pounds (500 kilograms) each and include company-built solar arrays, reaction wheels, flight and ground software, and telemetry, tracking and command radios.
MDA Space was selected in 2022 as prime contractor for the 17-satellite Globalstar replenishment program, according to the company’s securities filings, with an option for Globalstar to order up to nine additional spacecraft.
“This program for Globalstar marked a major transformation in our design and high-volume satellite production process, enabling us to accelerate development and manufacturing,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “With the execution of this constellation nearing completion, and with our new high-volume manufacturing facility now in operation, we are ramping up even further, giving us the capacity to meet customer requirements as market demand increases.”
“From spacecraft platform design, build, testing, and on-orbit operations, we’re executing across the entire mission lifecycle,” said Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab.
Rocket Lab said it has made contact with all eight satellites and confirmed they are generating power and performing normally on orbit. MDA Space said the remaining nine satellites on order are in the final stages of integration at its facilities. Neither company gave a date for the next launch.