spacetoday.net: Soyuz launches Globalstar satellites

Posted: Thu, Jul 14, 2011, 8:24 AM ET (1224 GMT)
Soyuz launch of second Globalstar 2 satellites (Arianespace)

A Soyuz rocket placed six new Globalstar satellites into orbit early Wednesday. The Soyuz 2 rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:24 pm EDT Tuesday (0227 GMT, 8:27 am local time Wednesday) and placed the six Globalstar satellites into low Earth orbit. The launch had been scheduled for Monday but was scrubbed because of a last-minute technical glitch with equipment on the launch pad; launch managers originally planned for a 24-hour delay but pushed the launch back another day to complete preparations for the new launch attempt. The launch is the second of four Soyuz missions for Globalstar that will place 24 new satellites into orbit, replacing Globalstar's original constellation of low Earth orbit communications satellites.