[Satellite TODAY 02-06-13] Arianespace and its Russian Starsem affiliate have successfully launched and orbited six new satellites for Globalstar on its Soyuz-Fregat rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the launch company announced Feb. 6.
 

   Arianespace and Starsem confirmed that the Fregat orbital stage accurately injected six Globalstar-2 constellations satellites into their targeted orbit.
 

   "Two successive firings of the Fregat stage were needed to carry out this mission. After stabilization of the stage, the dispenser released 1 hour and 38 minutes after lift off the two satellites positioned in its upper section; 1 minute and 40 seconds later, the four satellites in the lower part of the dispenser were released simultaneously," Arianespace said in a company statement.
 

   The Globalstar-2 constellation satellites, built by Thales Alenia Space, feature an optimized design to provide telephone and data transmission services to businesses and individuals in more than 120 countries. Arianespace and Starsem successfully launched the first 18 satellites of the Globalstar-2 constellation in 2010 and 2011 after Starsem had launched the 24 satellites in the Globalstar-1 constellation in 1999, as well as eight replacement satellites in 2007.