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Oneweb launch

dabigm

ULTIMATE Member

Soyuz rocket launches 36 OneWeb satellites into orbit for modified satellite internet constellation​



It was a success (as were all of them so far) bringing the total Oneweb constellation to 140 operational satellites now. Unlike Starlink who have a direct to customer sales approach, Oneweb will sell to telecom companies. Oneweb is expected to offer service in the UK, Alaska, Canada, northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, and the Arctic seas in November 2021.
 
The Nov 2021 service will be a beta, so we can probably expect the usual issues with connection stability and performance at launch. I think they might struggle to deliver 100Mbps+ speeds to end-users, but we'll see. By the way, where did you see the specific November date as they've generally just said by the end of 2021 before?
 
The Nov 2021 service will be a beta, so we can probably expect the usual issues with connection stability and performance at launch. I think they might struggle to deliver 100Mbps+ speeds to end-users, but we'll see. By the way, where did you see the specific November date as they've generally just said by the end of 2021 before?

On twitter from one of their employees (His title on LinkedIn says "executive leadership at Oneweb")


Here's his linkedin

 
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Hello,
The updates are not only for the launches, as it goes.
There is a clear hindrance and even missions threat from space debris for any satellite broadband, including OneWeb and other providers.
OneWeb is making steps forward in cooperation with ESA. This part of the network launch hardships is put aside in the whole picture.

Nevertheless, we are monitoring the implementation of the launch plans coming true.

While there is not any clear comment on the debris fighting the problem from any satellite broadband internet provider.
OneWeb, ESA, cooperated with the U. K. private pioneers as Skyrora are declaring demonstration of technologies, including space junk removal and maneuvering while orbital insertion.
 
They just launched another 34 satellites. I don't cover individual launches, so here's the PR.

OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, today confirmed the successful deployment of 34 satellites by Arianespace from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. This launch, the Company’s first in 2022 and 13th overall, brings OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation to 428 satellites. It represents 66 percent of OneWeb’s planned 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity.

This launch kicks off a successful start to 2022 as demand for OneWeb’s broadband connectivity services has continued to grow across telecommunications providers, aviation and maritime markets, ISPs, and governments worldwide. Most recently, the Company has signed new distribution partnership agreements with several companies in the last month – including Hughes Network Systems, Marlink, and Field Solutions Holdings – to help ensure connectivity is delivered to the most hard-to-reach places globally.

Liftoff of the latest launch occurred on Thursday, 10th of February 2022. OneWeb’s satellites separated from the rocket and were dispensed in nine batches over a period of 3 hours 33 minutes with signal acquisition on all 34 satellites confirmed.

Neil Masterson, OneWeb CEO, commented: “Our first launch of the year marks our significant progress in completing a truly global LEO network later in 2022. We continue to see growing demand for OneWeb’s industry-leading services as we look forward to delivering on our ambition to build robust, secure, and global access to broadband services.”

OneWeb dedicated this latest launch to the Company’s commitment to Responsible Space – its belief that space is a shared natural resource and it is up to all of us to help safeguard it for use today and by future generations. OneWeb’s Responsible Space initiative is comprised of three core elements; committing to responsible design and operations, sustaining the space ecosystem to support new technologies to advance in this area and, lastly, engaging in advancing policy outcomes to balance growing the space economy while ensuring its protection.
 
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I suspect OneWeb's commercial launch may have just been set back 1-2 years by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
I think not many people will be paying for Russian rocket launches any time soon either. Best thing OneWeb could do at this point is to approach SpaceX (laugh, but they will sell them space to launch with..) or United Launch Alliance for their future launches.
 
They'll probably write them off as a service loss, much like a failed launch. Not sure how that will work with the insurance/legal side though.
 
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They'll probably write them off as a service loss, much like a failed launch. Not sure how that will work with the insurance/legal side though.
HMG will pickup the tab. Doubt whether insurance would cover this under the circumstances. Acts of war - which this effectively is - are carved out typically.
 
Looks like they've chosen to partner with Arianespace

Arianespace was already the “launch partner” for all OneWeb launches. The Soyuz rocket was one of their fleet of launchers including the current Ariane 5 and forthcoming Ariane 6, due to fly commercially this year I think.
 
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Difficult but pragmatic, and they moved fast. The bigger question is, what will this cost them? Right now, Russia's reputation as a space launch provider is in pieces, and it's unclear whether OneWeb will ever get their money back on the pre-paid launches, or the last batch of 36 LEOs that now sit in a warehouse - ripe for copying. So it's both a cost and security concern.
 
Difficult but pragmatic, and they moved fast. The bigger question is, what will this cost them? Right now, Russia's reputation as a space launch provider is in pieces, and it's unclear whether OneWeb will ever get their money back on the pre-paid launches, or the last batch of 36 LEOs that now sit in a warehouse - ripe for copying. So it's both a cost and security concern.
As long as Putin is in the Kremlin, the 36 OneWeb satellites are effectively theirs to do with as they please, as are the monies used to launch them and the remainder of the constellation.

Mind you there are more vastly more important things to consider now. The world is a vastly different place since 24 February.
 
I suspect OneWeb's commercial launch may have just been set back 1-2 years by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Good to see them getting their birds back in the sky with NSIL so soon after “losing” 36 of them in Baikonur to the Russian mafia.

I’m sure the next launch with their arch rival SpaceX will be bitter-sweet but needs must.

 
Yes, it's pretty impressive to be able to secure alternative launch provider(s), adapt them to your satellites and then start lofting them into space in such a short window of time (around 7 months).
 
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