[10-17-07 – Satellite Today] The final four spacecraft in Globalstar Inc.‘s first generation of satellites are scheduled for launch Oct. 21 aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket, satellite manufacturer Space Systems/Loral announced Oct. 17.

The satellites, manufactured in 2002, will augment Globalstar’s constellation of 40 spacecraft. Many of the on-orbit spacecraft are suffering from S-band antenna problems, and Globalstar warned customers that they could begin to experience a loss of service.

Globalstar also placed four spare satellites in orbit in May, but the company’s second-generation satellites, being manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, are not expected to be available until summer 2009.