CAPE CANAVERAL Taking advantage of a pause in an ongoing launch range upgrade, Boeing plans to fire off a Delta 2 expendable rocket next week to place the next four members of Globalstars rapidly expanding satellite constellation into orbit.

The launch is scheduled for 12:37 a.m. ET Tuesday from Cape Canaveral Air Stations Launch Complex 17B. Launch operations at Cape Canaveral have been suspended since July 26 while new equipment to improve communications links for launch operations is installed.

The Eastern Test Range, which includes Cape Canaveral Air Station as well as tracking stations in Jupiter, Fla., and Antigua and Ascension islands, is reopening for the Delta launch and will close down again between Aug. 20 and 28.

The Delta rocket will be carrying the 33rd through 36th satellites for Globalstar, which is building a global mobile communications network. To properly position the satellites in orbit, the rocket will have to be launched between 12:37 and 12:40 a.m., or face a launch delay.

Upon completion, the Globalstar network is expected to total 48 satellites orbiting 878 miles above the planet.