Globalstar Launches Additional Four Satellites

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., April 24, 1998 -- Globalstar, a new worldwide mobile satellite telephone system, today successfully launched an additional four satellites from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The four low-earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites, manufactured by prime contractor Space Systems/Loral, were launched at 6:38 p.m. EDT aboard a Boeing Delta II launch vehicle. The Globalstar system, to be comprised of 48 LEO satellites and a global array of 50 to 75 ground stations or gateways, will allow people around the world to make or receive calls using cellular-sized hand-held, vehicle-mounted and fixed-site terminals.

Globalstar expects to launch 44 satellites by the end of 1998. To complete the Globalstar constellation of 48 satellites and eight in-orbit spares, the remaining 12 satellites will be launched early in 1999.

"All of the testing of our first four satellites to date has been superb. We now have eight satellites in two adjacent orbital planes allowing us to conduct further tests of key features of the Globalstar system," said Bernard L. Schwartz, chairman and chief executive officer of Globalstar and chairman and chief executive officer of Loral Space & Communications, Globalstar's largest equity owner. "Along with the recently placed order for 300,000 user terminals and the ongoing construction of gateways, this milestone furthers the deployment of our system, positioning Globalstar for the initiation of service in early 1999."

Technicians at Globalstar's mission control facility in San Jose, Calif., successfully acquired the satellites' telemetry signals at approximately 7:50 p.m. EDT. Over the next several weeks, the satellites will undergo checkout tests and eventually will be transferred to their operational altitude of 1414 kilometers.

The Globalstar system has been expressly designed to provide affordable digital voice services to a broad range of subscribers and users. Globalstar will meet the needs of global business travelers and cellular users who roam outside of terrestrial-based cellular coverage, as well as countless millions who will use Globalstar's fixed-site village phones to satisfy their needs for basic telephony.

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, Elsacom, a Finmeccanica/Elsag Bailey Company, France Telecom, Hyundai, Space Systems/Loral and Vodafone.

Globalstar now has service provider agreements in more than 100 countries, covering 85% of Globalstar's business plan. Four Globalstar gateways are being used to control and test the satellite system. Site work and construction is under way at 20 more gateway sites around the world. For more information, visit Globalstar's web site at http://www.globalstar.com.

Loral Space & Communications (NYSE:LOR), headquartered in New York City, is a high technology company that primarily concentrates on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services, including broadcast transponder leasing and value added services, domestic and international corporate data networks, global wireless telephony, broadband data transmission and formatting, Internet connectivity, digital audio radio services, and international direct-to-home satellite services. For more information, visit Loral's web site at http://www.loral.com.

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