MDA Space has announced the successful launch of the first eight replenishment satellites for the low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation of Globalstar. An important milestone in the satellite manufacturing activities by the company, these satellites were designed, integrated, and tested by MDA Space at their Montréal facility. Launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on August 15, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the satellites will now be subjected to in-orbit testing as part of the commissioning process. This is the first mission undertaken by MDA Space as the prime contractor of LEO satellites for a commercial communications constellation. The company said the Globalstar program has also driven changes to its design and manufacturing processes, enabling faster development and production.
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“This program for Globalstar marked a major transformation in our design and high-volume satellite production process, enabling us to accelerate development and manufacturing,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “With the execution of this constellation nearing completion, and with our new high-volume manufacturing facility now in operation, we are ramping up even further, giving us the capacity to meet customer requirements as market demand increases.” Nine additional satellites remain on order and are in final integration. Once operational, the satellites will help extend Globalstar’s constellation supporting direct-to-device connectivity on select mobile phones and IoT applications.