Satellites can die immediately after launch, despite a nominal multi-year lifetime. The question is the health of the constellation, are all of the satellites functional?
Globalstar has selected MDA Ltd. and Rocket Lab to supply a set of satellites to replenish its constellation, funded by a mystery customer.Globalstar said Feb. 24 it awarded a contract valued at $327 million to MDA to build 17 satellites intended to extend the life of the company’s existing satellite constellation, which provides messaging and internet-of-things services. The contract includes an option for up to nine additional satellites at $11.4 million each.MDA, in turn, awarded a $143 million contract to Rocket Lab to provide the satellite buses. That contract includes options for additional satellites as well as satellite dispensers and launch integration.“The combination of these vendors offered us the best overall balance of innovation, technical capability, schedule reliability and cost,” David Kagan, chief executive of Globalstar, said in a statement. “We look forward to beginning the process of bending metal and readying the new satellites for launch beginning in approximately three years.” Globalstar will contract for the launch of those satellites separately, with the expectation all will be launched by the end of 2025.
Does this mean that Rocket Labs is going to launch these new G* satellites?
Quote from: Danderman on 03/07/2022 12:59 pmDoes this mean that Rocket Labs is going to launch these new G* satellites?Depends whether you believe that Neutron will have had 2-3 commercial launches by the end of 2025. (Three launches if they still want to launch six satellites at a time, two if the smaller mass lets them put nine onto a single Neutron launch.) Or if you think the launch schedule will slip to the right slightly.
Quote from: trimeta on 03/07/2022 02:33 pmQuote from: Danderman on 03/07/2022 12:59 pmDoes this mean that Rocket Labs is going to launch these new G* satellites?Depends whether you believe that Neutron will have had 2-3 commercial launches by the end of 2025. (Three launches if they still want to launch six satellites at a time, two if the smaller mass lets them put nine onto a single Neutron launch.) Or if you think the launch schedule will slip to the right slightly.What masses are you talking about? Is the mass of the Rocket Labs bus known?
Mobile satellite services provider @Globalstar registers 3,080-satellite constellation with @ITU through Germany's @bnetza; 110 orbital planes at 485-700km. Current Globalstar constellation is at 1,400 km.
Globalstar has signed a term sheet with a “large, global customer” to start deploying some of its spectrum for terrestrial use “in the U.S. and beyond,” the satellite operator said May 5.The mystery customer is looking to use frequencies Globalstar holds in a part of S-band dubbed Band 53, the operator said in an earnings release.While further details were not disclosed, Globalstar has been working with Nokia for years to develop terrestrial solutions for Band 53, including private wireless networks and systems for connecting internet of things (IoT) devices.
The Partnership Agreements generally provide for Globalstar to:•Allocate 85% of its current and future network capacity to support the Services (see further discussion of capacity below);
I didn't watch the unveil, but it seems that you'll need to change your phone's orientation to actively tracking the satellite? That doesn't seem to be a good user experience...