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Globalstar Takes Delivery of Three Additional Satellites From Thales Alenia Space as it Prepares for October Launch
Globalstar, Inc., a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, government, and consumers, today announced it has taken delivery of three additional second-generation satellites from manufacturer Thales Alenia Space. The three new satellites are being shipped to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan where they will join the three new satellites that were delivered in early August. All six new second-generation satellites will undergo preparations and testing for an October launch using the highly reliable Soyuz launch vehicle.
“Taking delivery of these three new satellites completes a milestone achievement for Globalstar as we can now proceed, on schedule, with preparations for next month’s inaugural second-generation satellite launch,” said Tony Navarra, President, Global Operations for Globalstar, Inc. “When our new constellation is fully deployed we will once again reliably provide the world’s finest quality mobile satellite voice and fastest mobile satellite handset data services to commercial and government customers in more than 120 countries. Combined with our affordable and award-winning suite of consumer retail SPOT products we will be uniquely positioned to offer the world’s most extensive lineup of high quality mobile satellite services to the broadest range of customers around the globe.”
A total of four launches carrying six satellites each will be conducted by launch services provider Arianespace using the Soyuz launch vehicle which has been used to successfully launch Globalstar satellites on eight previous occasions. The Company plans to integrate the 24 new second-generation satellites with the eight first-generation satellites that were launched in 2007, to form a 32 satellite constellation. The new constellation is expected to secure Globalstar’s space segment beyond 2025.
Once the six new Globalstar satellites are in operational orbit, the most immediate service improvement will benefit those customers who use the Company’s voice and Duplex data services. With each subsequent launch, these customers can expect a progressive return to the high reliability and service quality enjoyed before 2007.
Once fully deployed the advanced second-generation constellation and next-generation ground network are designed to provide Globalstar customers with enhanced services featuring increased data speeds of up to 256 kbps in a flexible Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) configuration. Products and services supported are expected to include: push-to-talk and multicasting, advanced messaging capabilities such as multimedia messaging or MMS, mobile video, geo-location services, multi-band and multi-mode handsets, and data devices with GPS integration. The second-generation satellites are also designed to support Globalstar’s current lineup of voice, Duplex and Simplex data products and services including the Company’s lineup of Spot retail consumer products.
Arianespace keen to widen launch window with ISRO
Arianespace, the big brother of global satellite launch providers, plans to co-market its long-term associate ISRO’s PSLV, as a future ‘back-up’ for its third rocket, the new light-lift Vega, according to Arianespace’s Chairman and CEO, Mr Jean-Yves Le Gall. Vega is due to be tested this year.
His company also wants to include ISRO’s bigger GSLV rocket in their old joint-marketing agreement once the GSLV reaches commercial stage, Mr Le Gall told Business Line. He was in Bangalore for the just-ended CII-ISRO conference — the Bengaluru Space Expo 2010.
Tie-up
The France-led European major and ISRO tied up in 1998 to jointly bid for launch contracts or for Arianespace to pass on its surplus low-end orders to PSLV. Ariane5, its workhorse vehicle, has a huge backlog and is booked for the next three years, while it also focuses on hoisting large satellites weighing 6 to10 tonnes.
Vega, Arianespace’s third vehicle, is expected to make its first flight later this year or in 2011, and is meant to put 1500-kg class Earth observation satellites in near-Earth orbits. The PSLV, which costs at least 20-30 per cent less than others, is believed to be an attractive choice worldwide. Europe and the US apart, only Russia, Japan, India and China, have commercial launch capabilities. One report estimated the global launchers market at $4 billion in 2008.
According to Mr Le Gall, the PSLV, flown nearly 20 times including for the Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission, is now an established vehicle and an attractive low-cost option for satellite operators.
Orders
Asked why the agreement between ISRO and Arianespace had not fetched any orders so far, Mr Le Gall said, “ISRO has been successful on its own in marketing the PSLV and signing direct agreements with customers…. We also have some prospects and we could consider it as a back-up for Vega.”
ISRO’s commercial arm Antrix has so far won 25 contracts of small foreign satellites ranging from a few kilos to around 300 kilos, but all as secondary or ‘piggy-back’ passengers. ISRO is yet to win a solo launch order, largely due to geopolitics.
An industry observer said European satellite operators preferred a European launcher, while the US, a large-scale builder and user of commercial satellites, does not allow their launch on an Indian launcher. (The two Governments are trying to resolve this issue.)
Mr Le Gall said, “Some 20-25 satellites come up for launch every year and we sign about half of them. We signed nine this year. Competition for Arianespace today is mainly the Russian Proton launch vehicle” that is marketed by the US company, ILS, he said. With 60 per cent of the market share and three products that can meet any category of satellites, Arianespace is expected to remain the leader.
The 30-year-old company accounts for 283 or half of all commercial launches to date. It aims at 10 missions a year using Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega. (Arianespace will soon commercialise the celebrated Russian Soyuz rocket for global contracts by enhancing it to 3-tonne capability and launching it from its Guiana spaceport. Soyuz has made a record 1750 missions since 1957 from Kazakhstan and Russia.)
Cost vs quality
Launch costs rule around $20,000 a kg to orbits of 36,000 km.
Asked how Arianespace as a leader was addressing a growing need for cutting costs, Mr Le Gall said lower cost would also lower quality and his company would not compromise its success record for this; it could be possible with Vega and Soyuz.
Arianespace looked at ISRO as a partner with ties going back to the 1983 APPLE launch, Mr Le Gall said.
World’s Space-Biz 2010 Reveals India And Arianespace Are Friends In Space
World’s Space-Biz 2010 concluded at the Benagluru Space Expo in Bangalore, India. The conference was described as: “Involving very intensive deliberation that is totally dedicated to the space sector and has attracted many companies from different countries to develop their business with Indian space industry.” The exhibition provides a venue for players in the international space sector to discuss issues on access to space and commercialization, space adventure and exploration, and risk management with a special emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region.
“The conference has brought great awareness for the various developing space programs of India. It has provided a platform for Indian space industry to highlight its space programs globally,” K R Murthy, Managing Director Antrix Corporation limited, said, at the valedictory session.
In addition, India and Arianespace have a strong working relationship and this will continue over the coming years, said, Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall, Arianespace.
“With two additional Indian spacecraft in Arianespace’s order book, this strong working relationship is set to continue over the coming years,” the Chairman said, while addressing a panel at the ongoing World Space-Biz international conference.
Arianespace has a long-established partnership with India – which includes 13 satellites orbited by the company for Indian customers since 1981, starting with launch of the Apple experimental spacecraft in 1981.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently offered a contract to Arianespace, for the launch of its GSAT 10 communication satellite with the European launcher Ariane 5.
The company will also launch INSAT 4G communications satellite for the Indian space agency.
World Space-Biz provides a venue for players in the international space sector to discuss issues such as access to space and its commercialization, space adventure, exploration and risk management.