https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mda-space-signs-1-1b-contract-with-globalstar-to-build-next-generation-leo-constellation-302371980.html [Feb 10]QuoteMDA Space Ltd. today announced that it has signed a definitive contract with Globalstar Inc. to be the prime contractor for the satellite operator's next generation low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, with a total contract value of approximately $1.1 billion*.As part of the definitive contract for the full LEO constellation, MDA Space will manufacture more than 50 MDA AURORA software-defined digital satellites for Globalstar.
MDA Space Ltd. today announced that it has signed a definitive contract with Globalstar Inc. to be the prime contractor for the satellite operator's next generation low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, with a total contract value of approximately $1.1 billion*.As part of the definitive contract for the full LEO constellation, MDA Space will manufacture more than 50 MDA AURORA software-defined digital satellites for Globalstar.
SAT-PPL-20250214-00047 [Feb 14]QuoteAn initial launch of eight replacement HIBLEO-4 satellites is scheduled for mid-2025. Globalstar will place its additional HIBLEO-4 satellites and its French-licensed HIBLEO-X satellites into a Walker 32 configuration, with four satellites in each of eight orbital planes.QuoteEach of Globalstar’s C-3 System satellites will have a mass (wet) of approximately 850 kg and will have dimensions of approximately 3.7m (length) x 14m (width) x 1.4m (height) (with deployed solar array).Launch vehicle is not specified.
An initial launch of eight replacement HIBLEO-4 satellites is scheduled for mid-2025. Globalstar will place its additional HIBLEO-4 satellites and its French-licensed HIBLEO-X satellites into a Walker 32 configuration, with four satellites in each of eight orbital planes.
Each of Globalstar’s C-3 System satellites will have a mass (wet) of approximately 850 kg and will have dimensions of approximately 3.7m (length) x 14m (width) x 1.4m (height) (with deployed solar array).
Globalstar awarded Canada’s MDA a $327 million contract in 2022 to build 17 satellites, with options for up to nine additional satellites at $11.4 million each, after Apple agreed to cover most of the costs to replenish the constellation.SpaceX is under contract to launch the constellation, and Globalstar aims to deploy up to eight of them before the end of 2025.
Awarded prime contract valued at $327M USD including the design, manufacture, assembly and test of the satellitesMDA Ltd. (TSX:MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, today announced that it has been selected as the prime contractor for Globalstar Inc.’s (NYSE American:GSAT) new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Globalstar is a leading provider of Mobile Satellite Services including customizable satellite IoT solutions for individuals and businesses globally. The contract, valued at $327 million USD (approximately $415 million CAD) includes the design, manufacture, assembly and test of 17 satellites, with options for Globalstar to purchase up to nine additional satellites with flexibility in timing to order such satellites as well as other contractual options. The satellites built by MDA will integrate with Globalstar’s existing constellation, ensuring service continuity for Globalstar customers.MDA also announced that it will partner with Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq:RKLB) on the contract, bringing together two of the space industry’s most innovative satellite companies. MDA will act as prime contractor to manufacture Globalstar’s satellites as well as lead the development of the payload and integration while Rocket Lab will lead the development of the spacecraft bus.“The expertise and ability of our Satellite Systems team to provide industry-leading innovative and competitive satellite solutions is second to none, and we are honoured by Globalstar’s confidence and trust in selecting MDA as the prime contractor for its new satellites,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA. “Combining our deep expertise with new partners like Rocket Lab to bring exciting capability to the rapidly growing LEO constellation market further strengthens our position in the global satellite systems market and demonstrates MDA’s increasing role at the heart of the expanding space economy.”David Kagan, Globalstar’s CEO, stated, “After running a competitive process with multiple bidders, we are very pleased to announce the selection of MDA in partnership with Rocket Lab for the construction of our new satellites. The combination of these vendors offered us the best overall balance of innovation, technical capability, schedule reliability and cost. These new satellites will ensure Globalstar’s ability to provide the highest quality Mobile Satellite Services to its customer over the long-term. We look forward to beginning the process of bending metal and readying the new satellites for launch beginning in approximately three years.”The satellites will be built, assembled and tested at MDA’s new state-of-the art high volume satellite production facility in Montreal. Globalstar expects to launch the satellites by the end of 2025.The contract will be added to MDA’s backlog in the first quarter of fiscal 2022.MDA technology has been integrated into more than 350 satellite missions to date, with more than 2,000 antenna subsystems and 3,000 electronic subsystems on approximately 850 satellites currently in orbit.
The $143 million contract is the largest spacecraft bus order placed with Rocket Lab to date, encompassing the design and manufacture of 17 state-of-the-art spacecraft for Globalstar’s newest satellitesLONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced that it has been awarded a subcontract by MDA Ltd (TSX: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, to lead the design and manufacture of 17 spacecraft buses for Globalstar’s new Low Earth Orbit satellites. Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE American: GSAT) is a leading provider of Mobile Satellite Services including customizable satellite IoT solutions for individuals and businesses globally.Rocket Lab will lead the development of the spacecraft buses, while MDA will act as prime contractor to manufacture Globalstar’s satellites, lead the development of the payload, and perform the final satellite assembly, integration, and test. The partnership between Rocket Lab and MDA brings together two of the space industry’s most innovative satellite companies. The total initial contract value for Rocket Lab is US$143 million, with options to provide the satellite operations control center, launch dispensers, launch integration, and up to nine additional spacecraft with flexibility in timing to order such spacecraft. The satellites will integrate with and replenish Globalstar’s current constellation, ensuring service continuity. Globalstar expects to launch the satellites by the end of 2025.“We are thrilled to be collaborating with MDA to develop Globalstar’s new satellites and are honoured to have the trust and support of two of the space industry’s most innovative companies,” said Peter Beck, Founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. “With this contract Rocket Lab is executing on its strategy to go beyond launch and lead the new space economy by delivering complete mission solutions spanning spacecraft manufacture, satellite subsystems, flight software, ground operations, and launch.”“Cross-company collaboration and co-development is key to bringing new capabilities to market quickly to meet growing customer demand for advanced satellite technology,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA. “Rocket Lab is a strong fit for MDA and working with them on this system is an opportunity to flex, expand, and strengthen the capabilities of both companies, now and in the future.”All 17 of the 500kg spacecraft will be designed and manufactured at Rocket Lab’s Long Beach production complex and headquarters, where a new high-volume spacecraft manufacturing line is being developed to support growing customer demand for Rocket Lab satellites. Leveraging Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated space systems capabilities, the satellites will feature components and subsystems produced by Rocket Lab’s recently acquired companies including solar panels and structures from SolAero Technologies in Albuquerque, New Mexico, software from ASI by Rocket Lab in Denver, Colorado, and reaction wheels from Sinclair Interplanetary in Toronto, Canada. The telemetry and control radio for all spacecraft will also be a C-band variant of Rocket Lab’s Frontier Satellite Radio (Frontier-C).The contract is the result of a very detailed and highly competitive bid and evaluation process and Rocket Lab is honoured to have been selected by MDA. We believe Rocket Lab’s proposal met MDA’s and Globalstar’s stringent technical and schedule requirements, offered efficiencies through Rocket Lab’s high level of vertical integration, and that there is also strong cultural and operational alignment between the companies to deliver innovation and agility in today’s satellite market.Rocket Lab’s suite of spacecraft components and subsystems include reaction wheels, star trackers, space solar power, radios, flight software, ground software, and separation systems. More than 1,000 spacecraft globally have successfully flown with hardware from Rocket Lab and the four companies it has acquired since 2020.
Launch Services AgreementsAs more fully described in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 31, 2023, we have a LaunchServices Agreement and certain related ancillary agreements with SpaceX, providing for the launch of the first set of thesatellites we are acquiring pursuant to the satellite procurement agreement with MDA. The Launch Services Agreementsprovide a launch window from April to September 2025. To date, the parties have accepted milestones totaling $23.6 million associated with this agreement. We paid to SpaceX $9.6 million and $29.7 million during 2023 and 2024, respectively.In October 2024, we entered into another agreement with SpaceX for the launch of satellites related to the Extended MSSNetwork. To date, the parties have accepted milestones totaling $17.3 million associated with this agreement. During 2024, wepaid $129.6 million to SpaceX under this agreement, including $112 million as a long-term prepaid for future milestones.The Launch Services Agreements with SpaceX contains customary termination provisions including our right to terminatethe contract for convenience at any time, subject to certain conditions, including SpaceX retaining certain amounts of thecontract value.
As more fully described in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 31, 2023, Globalstar entered into a Launch Services Agreement with SpaceX and certain related ancillary agreements (the “Launch Services Agreements”), providing for the launch of the first set of the satellites the Company is acquiring pursuant to the satellite procurement agreement with MDA. The Launch Services Agreements provide a launch window from April toSeptember 2025.
Globalstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSAT), a next-generation telecommunications infrastructure and technology provider, today announces that the Company has signed an agreement with SpaceX for a Falcon 9 launch for the next set of satellites, pursuant to the 2022 satellite procurement agreement with MDA. As previously disclosed, these satellites will provide continuous satellite services in combination with the existing second-generation satellites in operation today. Globalstar expects the launch will take place next year following the initial launch this year. These satellites have been authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to operate under Globalstar’s HIBLEO-4 filing for a renewed 15-year term.
The Company's allocated capacity supports the following phases of the Services: 1) current Services provided over the Company's existing network of in-orbit satellites and ground stations ("gateways") pursuant to its spectrum licenses (the "Globalstar System") ("Phase 1 Service Period"), 2) future Services provided over the new replacement satellites ("Phase 2 Service Period"), of which such Services are expected to commence following the anticipated launch of the first set of such replacement satellites in the fourth quarter of 2025, and 3) future Services provided over the Extended MSS Network.
In each of August 2023 and June 2025, Globalstar entered into a Launch Services Agreement with SpaceX and certain related ancillary agreements (collectively, the “Launch Services Agreements”), providing for the launch of the first and second sets, respectively, of the 17 replacement satellites that the Company is acquiring pursuant to the 2022 satellite procurement agreement with MDA. In June 2025, the Company and SpaceX extended the launch timeframe and selected a launch window under the August 2023 launch services agreement for the first set of replacement satellites during the fourth quarter of 2025.
As of June 30, 2025, in connection with constructing and preparing for the launch of the HIBLEO-4 replacement satellites, the Company has incurred $244.8 million and $23.6 million for milestones completed under these agreements with MDA and SpaceX, respectively. As of June 30, 2025, in connection with the constructing and preparing for the launch of the Extended MSS Network, the Company has incurred $209.6 million and $44.6 million for milestones completed under these agreements with MDA and SpaceX, respectively. These costs, as well as the associated personnel costs and capitalized interest, are reflected in the "space component" of construction in progress in the table above.
⚡ Meet Lightning ⚡Our powerhouse spacecraft platform built for high-power, long-life missions in low Earth orbit & beyond.Right now, our Long Beach team is building Lightning satellites at scale to power two major constellations:🔹 17 satellites for @Globalstar's next-gen constellation that will extend the life of their messaging and IoT services fleet.🔹 18 satellites for the @SemperCitiusSDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta constellation to enable secure, low-latency comms for the warfighter.When the mission calls for serious endurance, Lightning strikes. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3YlOEdK
GlobalStar CEO at Earnings Call today said no launch window, but then CFO came on and said working with SpaceX for a new launch window in H1 2026. CFO - "For the replacement satellites, which you might be referring to, that are being launched in two batches, we're working with SpaceX to confirm an updated launch window in the first half of 2026."
The Company's allocated capacity supports the following phases of the Services: 1) current Services provided over the Company's existing network of inorbit satellites and ground stations ("gateways") pursuant to its spectrum licenses (the "Globalstar System") ("Phase 1 Service Period"), 2) future Services provided over the new replacement satellites ("Phase 2 Service Period"), of which such Services are expected to commence following the anticipated launch of the first set of such replacement satellites in the first half of 2026 (refer to Note 9: Commitments and Contingencies for further discussion), and 3) future Services provided over the Extended MSS Network
As of September 30, 2025, in connection with constructing and preparing for the launch of the replacement satellites, the Company has incurred $247.5 million and $63.2 million in capital expenditures for milestones completed under these agreements with MDA Space and SpaceX, respectively
As a result of the delivery delays of the replacement satellites (discussed above), the Company and SpaceX are working to establish an updated launch window for the first set of replacement satellites that may occur in the first half of 2026.
We currently expect delivery of the 17 replacement satellites in early 2026.
The Company has determined that the projected delivery dates for satellites under the satellite procurement agreement that it entered into with Globalstar in February 2022 for the delivery of 17 satellites to replace Globalstar’s HIBLEO-4 U.S.-licensed system will be later than the dates originally set out under the satellite procurement agreement. This delay is the result of a number of factors, including delays that have arisen in the Company’s supply chain with certain key suppliers. Work on this program is well advanced and the Company anticipates delivering satellites in early 2026.
Key Program – Globalstar LEO Constellation Expansion: In 2022, Globalstar announced that MDA Space has been selected as the prime contractor for Globalstar’s new LEO satellites. Globalstar is a provider of Mobile Satellite Services including customizable satellite IoT solutions for individuals and businesses globally. Globalstar’s contract with MDA Space, valued at US$327 million (~$415 million) includes the design, manufacture, assembly and test of 17 satellites, with options for Globalstar to purchase up to nine additional satellites. The satellites built by MDA Space will integrate with Globalstar's existing constellation. In 2022, Globalstar disclosed that Apple Inc. is the primary customer for its current and future satellite network capacity which will support new satellite-enabled services for certain of Apple’s products.
Determined that the projected delivery dates for satellites under the satellite procurement agreement that it entered into with Globalstar in February 2022 for the delivery of 17 satellites to replace Globalstar’s HIBLEO-4 U.S.-licensed system will be later than the dates originally set out under the satellite procurement agreement. This delay is the result of a number of factors, including delays that have arisen in the Company’s supply chain with certain key suppliers, however work on this program is well advanced. As disclosed in Q3, under the terms of the satellite procurement agreement, Globalstar is entitled to claim liquidated damages as a result of this delivery delay. The Company is similarly entitled to claim liquidated damages against its suppliers that have contributed to these delays. The Company continues to discuss the potential application of liquidated damages with Globalstar.
In 2022, we entered into a satellite procurement agreement with Macdonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation ("MDA Space") pursuant to which we expect to acquire 17 satellites to replace our HIBLEO-4 U.S.-licensed system. In August 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC") Space Bureau granted our application to replace our HIBLEO-4 U.S.-licensed system with up to 26 satellites and operate them under a renewed 15-year license term to provide long-term continuity of our MSS. The technical specifications and design of these replacement satellites are similar to our current satellites. We currently expect delivery of the 17 replacement satellites during 2026, with the first set expected in early 2026 and the second set in mid-2026. These replacement satellites are expected to complement our existing second-generation constellation to ensure continuous service delivery.
Delays in the delivery or launch of new satellites could negatively impact our future operations and financial results, including the obligations under the Updated Services Agreements, which could result in a decrease in expectedrevenue or termination. For example, as a result of delivery delays of the replacement satellites to support the Phase 2 Service Period, we were unable to timely launch the first set of replacement satellites that we are acquiring pursuantto the 2022 satellite procurement agreement with MDA Space. We are working to establish an updated launch window for the first set of replacement satellites and expect the launch of such satellites to occur in the first half of 2026;however, we may not be able to do so timely, if at all.
In 2022, we entered into a satellite procurement agreement with MDA Space pursuant to which we expect to acquire at least 17 satellites to replace our HIBLEO-4 U.S.-licensed system with an amended contract price of$329.3 million for 17 of the replacement satellites. In addition, MDA Space will provide a satellite operations control center for $5.0 million as well as other equipment for $4.2 million. The projected delivery dates in 2026 are laterthan the dates specified in the satellite procurement agreement. We are contractually entitled to receive liquidated damages from MDA Space based upon the terms of the satellite procurement agreement due to MDA Space's failure to meet delivery milestones and the parties are discussing this matter. Any damages would reduce amounts owed to MDA Space when realized or realizable.Pursuant to the 2022 satellite procurement agreement, as of December 31, 2025, the parties have accepted milestones totaling $258.3 million associated with the new satellites and related infrastructure. We have paid to MDA Spacea total of $236.5 million under the 2022 satellite procurement agreement, of which $19.5 million was paid in 2025. We expect to continue to fund a portion of the future milestone payments under the 2022 satellite procurementagreement using the 2023 Funding Agreement.
In each of August 2023 and June 2025, we entered into a Launch Services Agreement with SpaceX and certain related ancillary agreements (collectively, the “Launch Services Agreements”), providing for the launch of the first andsecond sets, respectively, of the 17 replacement satellites we are acquiring pursuant to the 2022 satellite procurement agreement with MDA Space. As a result of the delivery delays of the replacement satellites (discussed above), Globalstar and SpaceX are working to establish an updated launch window for the first set of replacement satellites. Globalstar expects the launch of the first and second sets of satellites during the first half and second half of 2026,respectively.As of December 31, 2025, the parties have accepted milestones totaling $72.9 million associated with the Launch Services Agreements. We have paid to SpaceX a total of $108.5 million under the Launch Services Agreements, of which $69.2 million was paid in 2025.
As of December 31, 2025, in connection with the construction and launch preparation of the replacement satellites, the Company has incurred $258.3 million and $72.9 million in capital expenditures for milestones completed underthe related agreements with MDA Space and SpaceX, respectively. After launch, the replacement satellites will be placed into service and begin depreciating once they are operational.
