A Soyuz rocket launched the Globalstar satellites from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan after last-minute launch pad malfunctions caused short-term delays last week. Arianespace said the rocket’s Fregat orbital stage accurately injected the six Globalstar-2 satellites into their targeted orbit approximately one hour and 38 minutes after liftoff.

   The Globalstar-2 satellites, built by Thales Alenia Space, aim to provide telephone and data transmission services to businesses and individuals in more than 120 countries. Arianespace and Starsem orbited the first six satellites of the Globalstar-2 constellation in October 2010.