Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced the successful launch of eight advanced satellite platforms built for MDA Space (TSX: MDA; NYSE: MDA), the prime contractor for the replenishment of Globalstar’s existing satellite constellation. The constellation supports direct-to-device communications services and IoT applications from orbit.
The eight spacecraft are the first batch of a 17-platform constellation that Rocket Lab is building for MDA Space under a $143 million agreement.
The first eight satellite platforms were launched on August 15 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 9:12 p.m. ET. Rocket Lab has established contact with all eight spacecraft and confirmed that they are performing nominally and generating power on orbit.
Spacecraft commissioning has now begun as the satellites are prepared to support Globalstar’s existing network and extend mobile satellite services to customers globally.
“Our satellite platforms are a powerful demonstration of Rocket Lab’s capabilities brought to life,” said Sir Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. “From spacecraft platform design, build, testing, and on-orbit operations, we’re executing across the entire mission lifecycle and our approach is delivering the speed, reliability, and agility that competitive direct-to-device constellations like this one demand.”
“With our scaled manufacturing, operational expertise, and vertically integrated satellite platforms that bring cost and schedule under control, we’re positioned to be the partner of choice for the constellation economy and proud to have supported this deployment for MDA Space and its customer Globalstar,” Beck added.
The approximately 500-kilogram satellite platforms are a customised version of Rocket Lab’s standard Lightning platform. Built and tested at Rocket Lab’s headquarters in Long Beach, California, the spacecraft incorporate the company’s in-house components and subsystems, including solar arrays, reaction wheels, flight and ground software, elements of the avionics suite, and Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) radios.
The Lightning platform is also in production for other missions, including a recently awarded space domain awareness programme with the U.S. Space Force and the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta and Tranche 3 Tracking Layer constellations.
