COVINGTON, La. (WVUE) – A north shore company is preparing to launch new communications technology into space with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, in hopes of saving lives. And economic development leaders say that Globalstar’s new $64 million contract shows the high-tech potential of this region.
A SpaceX flight next year will likely carry technology developed at Globalstar’s Covington headquarters, part of a new partnership with Apple to expand emergency communications capabilities in rural areas.
“Thirteen years ago or so, we said (to Globalstar), ‘Look, you can move from California to Covington and get lower costs, better incentives and more attention, to really create a place where you’re going to be a big fish.’ And that’s turned out to be true,” said Michael Hecht, president of the nonprofit economic development driver Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Globalstar, which employs about 200 people, has utilized local university tie-ins and hiring incentives to become a …