Launch Failure
Liftoff Time (GMT)
20:29:00
Wednesday September 9, 1998
Guidance system failure at T+272 seconds caused shutdown of 2nd stage engine. Following this failure, Globalstar cancelled its contract, which still included two other Zenit flights.
Globalstar, Inc. is an American satellite communications company that operates a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation for satellite phone and low-speed data communications, somewhat similar to the Iridium satellite constellation and Orbcomm satellite systems. The constellation operates in a 1410 km orbit inclined at 52 degrees, and will also have 8 spares. The satellites are based on the SS/Loral LS-400 platform, with the body is trapezoidal in shape with two deployed solar panels, in order to allow multiple satellites to be carried on the same launch. The satellite is 3-axis stabilized and employs magnetometers on a deployable boom, sun sensors, GPS as attitude sensors, and carries two deployable solar arrays delivering 1100 W for normal operations. The propulsion system employs hydrazine, and its primary use is station keeping. Each satellite weighs 450 kg, with a dry mass of 350 kg, and is designed for a 7.5 year lifetime. The payload antennas are phased arrays mounted on the satellite body. The Attitude control, orbit control and solar panels were delivered by Dornier.
Low Earth Orbit
12 Payloads
6,600 kilograms
31st
Mission
3rd
Mission of 1998
56th
Orbital launch attempt