Status
Failure
Globalstar FM5, 7, 9 to 13, 16 to 18, 20 & 21
Wed Sep 09, 1998 20:29 UTC
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.
Rocket
Mission Details
Globalstar FM5, 7, 9 to 13, 16 to 18, 20 & 21
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.