MDA Space Ltd. said Nov. 10 that the eight satellites it supplied to Globalstar, Inc. passed initial checks in orbit, advancing a replacement program intended to sustain Globalstar’s communications network.
The milestone does not put the spacecraft into commercial service. Two have begun electric orbit raising, MDA Space said. The contractor and Globalstar are checking payload and spacecraft functions on the other six as their orbital planes align. The first batch must still reach a final testing altitude before moving to its operating orbits.
The satellites launched Aug. 15 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Globalstar said afterward that it could communicate with and control all eight. Testing and calibration must be completed before the satellites enter commercial service.
The replacements are intended to sustain Globalstar’s existing low Earth orbit network. That network supports satellite services on select mobile phones and Internet of Things applications.
Globalstar’s quarterly filing puts the amended price for 17 replacement satellites at $329.3 million. The agreement allows Globalstar to acquire at least 17 and up to 26 satellites. The filing says the first eight were delivered in April and delivered again after repairs in July. It also says the companies are discussing liquidated damages over missed delivery milestones.
The filing lists certain replacement-satellite milestones among the conditions for Globalstar’s planned merger with Amazon. Globalstar expects the transaction to close in 2027.
MDA Space said it has finished integrating the nine satellites in the second batch. Globalstar’s filing schedules their delivery and launch window for December 2026.
