MDA Space says the first eight satellites it delivered for Globalstar’s 2-R mission have passed initial functional tests in orbit, nearly three months after their Aug. 15 launch.
MDA Space is the prime contractor on the mission, which will add 17 new satellites to Globalstar’s existing low Earth orbit constellation. The company confirmed the test results in an announcement on the first in-orbit milestones.
Globalstar is a U.S. satellite communications company. Its network powers the satellite features on Apple’s iPhone 14 and later models and the Apple Watch Ultra 3, including Emergency SOS, Messages, Find My and Roadside Assistance via satellite. Globalstar also sells SPOT GPS messengers, handheld devices that send check-ins and SOS alerts by satellite, and provides satellite connectivity that lets businesses track and protect assets.
Two of the eight satellites have begun raising their orbits using electric thrusters. They produce very little thrust, so they lift a satellite to a higher orbit gradually.
For the other six, orbit raising will follow as their target orbital planes, the paths they will travel around Earth, move into alignment. In the meantime, MDA Space and Globalstar are testing the payloads and the satellite buses.
Rocket Lab, which designed, built and commissioned the satellite platforms, is supporting orbit raising for all eight satellites. Once the satellites reach the last testing altitude, they will be moved into their final orbit.
“From the assembly, integration and testing of Globalstar 2-R satellites to the launch campaign and post-launch activities, we have accomplished multiple mission firsts with fine-tuned skill and agility,” said Mike Greenley, chief executive of MDA Space.
The second and last batch of nine satellites has completed its final stages of integration at MDA Space’s facility in Montreal.
Together, the two batches will replenish Globalstar’s constellation, which the company calls HIBLEO. The network supports direct-to-device services, which let select mobile phones connect straight to satellites without a ground tower. It also serves Internet of Things (IoT) applications, which link everyday devices and sensors to a network.
The 2-R satellites are separate from C-3, a third-generation constellation that MDA Space is also building for Globalstar under a $1.1-billion contract signed in February 2025.
Amazon agreed in April to acquire Globalstar. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved the deal in October, and it is expected to close in 2027. Closing conditions include Globalstar meeting certain milestones for replacement satellites for its HIBLEO-4 constellation.