Globalstar has awarded a contract to Starsem to carry four more satellites on a Soyuz launch in 2001. This follows three launches of four Globalstars each this year. Another three previously contracted Globalstar launches are due later this year.
The Aerospatiale-Matra/Arianespace/Samara/Russian SpaceAgency owned Starsem also has contracts for two Soyuz launches of two Cluster 2 satellites each. The European Space Agency has formally contracted Starsem to launch the Mars Express in June 2003, on a Soyuz booster from Baikonur, using a Fregat upper stage.
The Fregat, formerly employed as an upper stage on Proton boosters for the flight of two Mars craft in 1988, is also being used on the two Soyuz boosters that will carry the Cluster science satellites in May and August next year.
Starsem's long-term success is largely dependent on the need to launch satellites for the proposed mobile and multimedia low earth orbit satellite constellations. The future of some of these projects are not certain, however, especially as doubts have been expressed by industry sources about the technical viability of constellation systems and the financial prospects of mobile systems.
Starsem hopes that the success of Globalstar will restore confidence in the new mobile communication systems, but, if this business were to fail, it would be "catastrophic", says Jean-Charles Vincent, vice-president of sales and marketing. Vincent says Starsem needs to make five to six launches annually to reach "equilibrium", but its target is 10-12 launches a year. It will make six this year, but only two to three next year, he adds.
Starsem charges between $35 million and $45 million per launch, in competition with the Boeing Delta II. Future prospects will come from government low earth orbit observation satellites.
Source: Flight International
