The stationary axisymmetric outflow from a rotating sphere with a (spl
it) monopole magnetic field is considered. The stream equation describ
ing the outflow is linearized in terms of the Michel magnetization par
ameter sigma(-1) << 1, which allows a self-consistent analysis of the
direct problem. It is shown that for a finite a the fast magnetosonic
surface is located at a finite distance similar to sigma(1/3)R(L) (R-L
= c/Omega(F) is the light cylinder). We have also found that the part
icle energy at the fast surface is just equal to the Michel value gamm
a similar to sigma(1/3). The particle acceleration and magnetic field
collimation are shown to become ineffective outside the fast magnetoso
nic surface.