# Globalstar M002

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q111498443](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111498443)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/globalstar-m002

## Summary  
The Globalstar M002 is an artificial satellite launched on February 14, 1998, as part of the Globalstar satellite constellation. It was deployed using a Delta II launch vehicle and is identified by the COSPAR ID 1998-008C. Its primary function is to support global mobile communications services through low-Earth orbit operations.

## Key Facts  
- Launched on **February 14, 1998**  
- COSPAR ID: **1998-008C**  
- Satellite Number (SCN): **25164**  
- Launch Vehicle: **Delta II**  
- Instance Of: **Artificial Satellite**  
- Part of the **Globalstar satellite network**, designed for mobile voice and data communications  
- Operated in **Low Earth Orbit (LEO)**  
- Developed under the broader **Globalstar project**, initiated by Qualcomm and Loral Corporation  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the Globalstar M002 used for?  
A: The Globalstar M002 is a communications satellite used to provide global mobile voice and data services via the Globalstar satellite network. It operates in low Earth orbit to relay signals between ground stations and user terminals.

### Q: When was the Globalstar M002 launched?  
A: The Globalstar M002 was launched on February 14, 1998. It was one of several satellites placed into orbit during the initial deployment phase of the Globalstar constellation.

### Q: Which rocket was used to launch the Globalstar M002?  
A: The Globalstar M002 was launched using a **Delta II** expendable launch system, which was commonly used for medium-lift missions during that era.

## Why It Matters  
The Globalstar M002 played a critical role in expanding global telecommunications coverage, particularly in remote and underserved regions where terrestrial infrastructure was lacking. As part of the early Globalstar constellation, it enabled reliable two-way satellite communication services for industries such as maritime, aviation, oil and gas, and emergency response. These satellites represented a significant advancement in commercial space-based communication systems, laying groundwork for modern satellite phone and IoT networks.

## Notable For  
- One of the first generation of **commercial low-Earth orbit communication satellites**  
- Enabled **global mobile satellite services** before widespread cellular infrastructure existed  
- Deployed using the historically successful **Delta II launch vehicle**  
- Identified by SCN **25164**, tracked and catalogued by major aerospace databases including Wolfram Language Entity Code: `Entity["Satellite", "25164"]`  
- Represents an early example of large-scale private investment in satellite communications infrastructure  

## Body  

### Mission Overview  
The Globalstar M002 was developed as part of the Globalstar program—a joint venture led by Qualcomm and Loral Corporation—to create a satellite-based personal communications service (PCS). The mission aimed to deliver affordable and accessible mobile communications globally, especially targeting areas without existing landline or cellular coverage.

### Technical Details  
- **Satellite Class**: Artificial Satellite  
- **Orbit Type**: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)  
- **Launch Mass**: Approximately 442 kg (typical for early Globalstar satellites)  
- **Design Life**: ~7.5 years  
- **Frequency Bands**: L-band for user links; C-band for gateway transmissions  

### Deployment History  
- **Launch Date**: February 14, 1998  
- **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Delta II (model 7920-10)  
- **Mission Designation**: Part of the first wave of Globalstar satellites launched between 1998 and 1999  

### Operational Role  
As part of the full Globalstar constellation, M002 contributed to providing seamless global connectivity by relaying calls and data from handheld and fixed user terminals to ground gateways connected to the public-switched telephone network (PSTN). Unlike geostationary satellites, these LEO satellites offered lower latency and better signal strength at the expense of requiring more satellites for continuous coverage.

### Tracking & Identification  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1998-008C  
- **SATCAT Number (SCN)**: 25164  
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code**: `Entity["Satellite", "25164"]`  
- Tracked by NORAD and international satellite monitoring organizations  

This satellite exemplifies the technological foundation upon which today’s commercial satellite communication systems were built.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report