3200 Zanker Road
P.O. Box 640670
San Jose, CA 95164 USA
Tel: 408.933.4434
Fax: 408.933.4100
E-mail: john.cunningham@globalstar.com
| News For Immediate Release |
| Contact: John Cunningham Globalstar, L.P. 1+408.933.4434 |
Globalstar Reschedules First Launch
NEW YORK, November 11, 1997 — Globalstar, L.P. announced today that it has rescheduled the launch of its first four satellites to the first week of February 1998. The eight-week postponement was adopted to allow for further testing and rehearsals of the tracking, telemetry was adopted to allow for further testing and rehearsals of the tracking, telemetry and control (TT&C) ground equipment that will monitor the launch and deployment of the Globalstar satellites.
Bernard L. Schwartz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Globalstar said, "The postponement was adopted in order to assure an adequate period of time to complete testing of Globalstar's TT&C function prior to the initial launch, and was not related to any segment performance issue. All other elements of the project — including system design, satellite and CDMA technology, gateway design and handset production — remain on schedule and meet or exceed critical performance criteria."
Globalstar now expects to begin commercial service no later than in the first quarter of 1999 following the launch of 44 satellites during 1998. The remaining 12 satellites will be launched in early 1999 as scheduled.
The first four Globalstar satellites are at the Cape Canaveral launch site and four addi-tional satellites for the second launch have successfully completed integration and testing. In addition, satellite and major subsystem assembly, integration and testing necessary for the first Zenit launch is underway.
The first four Globalstar gateways are completed and ready to support the first launch. Progress on the construction of an additional 34 gateways continues as originally scheduled.
Globalstar, led by Loral Space & Communications, is a partnership of the world's leading telecommunications service providers and equipment manufacturers, including QUALCOMM Incorporated, AirTouch Communications, Alcatel, Alenia, DACOM, Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Elsag Bailey, France Telecom, Hyundai, Space Systems/Loral and Vodafone. Globalstar is building and preparing to launch and operate a LEO satellite-based digital telecommunications system designed to enable local service providers to offer low-cost, high-quality wireless voice telephony and data services in virtually every populated area of the world. The common stock of Globalstar Telecommunications Limited, a Bermuda company, is listed on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "GSTRF."
