Globalstar satellites successfully launched
August 17, 2026

By Chris Forrester



A SpaceX rocket lit up the Cape Canaveral night sky on the evening of August 15th, launching the first batch of Globalstar HIBLEO-4 replacement satellites. Amazon is in the process of buying Globalstar in a deal valued at some $11.6 billion (€10bn), announced in April 2026.

The Falcon 9 rocket took off at 9:12 p.m. Florida time on August 15th from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket’s booster saw a successful return to Landing Zone 40,


The rocket placed eight Globalstar satellites into their transfer orbit. The mission was the first of two batches, totalling 17 satellites, to be launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets.

“These satellites are being built to replace aging assets in Globalstar’s current constellation and are intended to support continued service in combination with the company’s existing second-generation satellites,” says the company.

HIBLEO-4 will continue to support SPOT service for rescuers and direct-to-handset emergency SOS service for smartphones. Both of these allow for emergency communication outside the reach of traditional cellular service.

“This launch marks the culmination of years of focused work across our company to ensure the long-term continuity and strength of Globalstar’s satellite network,” commented Globalstar’s CEO Paul E. Jacobs. “Replenishing our HIBLEO-4 constellation is a proud moment for the entire team and an important step in advancing the reliable, resilient mobile satellite services our customers depend on every day.”

Globalstar satellites, radio frequency spectrum, and operational expertise will enable Amazon Leo to add Direct-to-Device (D2D) services to future generations of its low Earth orbit satellite network.