Rocket Lab launches eight Globalstar satellites

Industry & Services Aerospace Written by: Ian Lyall 08:08 Mon 17 Aug 2026 --> Edited by: Jamie Ashcroft Disclaimer No investment advice About this content Editorial Standards & Policies Share article About this content × About Ian Lyall Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business output at the Daily... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the world’s key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. Rocket Lab USA Inc ( NASDAQ:RKLB ) View Price & Profile Rocket Lab launches eight Globalstar satellites Last updated: 08:08 17 Aug 2026 BST, First published: 08:20 17 Aug 2026 BST Space company Rocket Lab ( Rocket Lab USA Inc (NASDAQ:RKLB) has successfully launched eight satellite platforms built for MDA (TSX:MDA) Space to replenish Globalstar’s existing communications constellation. The satellites launched on 15 August from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 9.12pm Eastern time, marking the first batch of 17 platforms Rocket Lab is building under a $143 million contract with MDA (TSX:MDA) Space. Rocket Lab has established contact with all eight spacecraft and confirmed they are generating power and operating normally in orbit. The satellites will now undergo commissioning before joining Globalstar’s network, which provides direct-to-device communications and internet of things applications from orbit. The 500kg spacecraft are customised versions of Rocket Lab’s Lightning satellite platform and were built and tested at the company’s headquarters in Long Beach, California. The Lightning platform is in production for multiple other high-profile missions, including programmes for the US Space Force and the Space Development Agency. Each platform includes solar arrays, reaction wheels, flight and ground software, avionics and telemetry, tracking and command radios developed partly or entirely in-house. MDA (TSX:MDA) Space, the Canadian space technology company, is the prime contractor for the programme to replenish Globalstar’s existing constellation and extend its mobile satellite services. The launch moves the $143 million Globalstar replenishment programme into its operational phase. It also extends Rocket Lab’s role beyond launch services into satellite design, manufacturing, testing and on-orbit operations as demand grows for large communications constellations. The platforms were designed and manufactured by Rocket Lab in Long Beach, California, before MDA Space carried out final assembly, integration and testing in Montréal. Continue reading