Boeing

Following an early morning launch today, a Delta II rocket placed four additional Globalstar satellites in orbit, bringing to 28 the total number of satellites comprising the emerging global telephony operating system.

"The Globalstar satellite operating system is now very close to becoming a reality," said Darryl Van Dorn, Boeing director of NASA and commercial programs. "The Boeing Company is proud to support Globalstar in meeting its business objective of becoming operational in the third quarter."

The launch, which occurred at 4:45 a.m. EDT today, is the second of four planned Boeing Delta II launches within a 90-day period in support of Space Systems/Loral and the Globalstar satellite system. The next Delta II launch, scheduled for late July, will give Globalstar the minimum operating platform of 32 satellites.

Today's launch marks the third mission launched within a month by the Boeing Delta team, following launches for Globalstar on June 10 and NASA on June 24.

The next Delta launch for Globalstar in mid-August will mark the final four of 16 Globalstar satellites placed in orbit within a 90-day period by Boeing Delta rockets.

The Delta II is manufactured in Huntington Beach, Calif., with final assembly in Pueblo, Colo., and is powered by the RS-27A engine built by Boeing in Canoga Park, Calif. Alliant Techsystems, Magna, Utah, builds the graphite epoxy motors for boost assist. Aerojet, Sacramento, Calif., manufactures the second-stage engine, and AlliedSignal, Teterboro, N.J., builds the guidance and flight control system.

The Globalstar network is a planned constellation of 48 satellites orbiting at 764 nautical miles (1414 km) above the Earth that will supply global mobile telephony service.

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