Developed and tested at the company’s Montréal facility, the satellites lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at 9:12 p.m. ET on August 15. The hardware is now entering a critical commissioning phase, during which engineers will conduct a series of in-orbit tests to ensure system readiness. Once fully integrated, these units will extend the operational lifespan of the existing Globalstar network, which supports IoT applications and direct-to-device mobile services.
MDA Space Deploys First Globalstar Replenishment Satellites
Eight new satellites designed for Globalstar’s low Earth orbit constellation successfully reached orbit Saturday night following a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Florida. The mission marks a significant milestone for manufacturer MDA Space, representing the first time the company has delivered a commercial communications constellation as a prime contractor.
CEO Mike Greenley described the deployment as a fundamental shift in the company’s production strategy. By moving to a high-volume manufacturing model, MDA Space aims to accelerate development timelines to keep pace with growing industry demand. With the initial eight units now in space, the company is finalizing the integration of the remaining nine satellites on order to complete the current phase of the program.
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