Starsem announces Oct. 5 it received a contract from Globalstar LLC to launch a replacement spacecraft for the global satellite telephone operator. The contract call for Starsem to launch a replacement satellite in the first half of 2007 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz launch vehicle, with an option for a second mission.

Between February and November 1999, Starsem launched 24 Globalstar satellites, half of the original constellation, using six Soyuz launch vehicles. Globalstar provides satellite voice and data services to customers around the globe.