Flight ST35, performed by Arianespace and its Starsem affiliate from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 14th at 11.07pm (local time), will put 34 of OneWeb’s satellites into a near-polar orbit at an altitude of 450 kilometers. The mission will have a total duration of 3 hours and 45 minutes and will include a first separation of two satellites followed by eight separations of four satellites, which will raise themselves to their operational orbit.
This launch represents an important step in Arianespace’s career, as it will see the 1,000th satellite processed by the European launch service operator reach its orbit. Throughout a 41-year history, Arianespace has orbited all types of satellites and spacecraft, from connectivity and broadcast to Earth observation and science, allowing its customers to reach all kind of destinations into space, from close orbits to deep space locations.
This 60th launch of Soyuz operated by Arianespace, the 10th to the benefit of OneWeb, will raise to 322 the number of satellites deployed for the global telecommunications operator. OneWeb’s constellation will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity services to a wide range of customer sectors including aviation, maritime, backhaul services, as well as governments, emergency response services and more. Central to its purpose, OneWeb seeks to bring connectivity to every place where fiber cannot reach, and thereby bridge the digital divide.
Once deployed, the OneWeb constellation will enable user terminals that are capable of offering 3G, LTE, 5G and Wi-Fi coverage, providing high-speed access globally – by air, sea and land.
OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus Defence and Space, is the constellation’s prime contractor. The satellites were built thanks to its leading-edge satellite manufacturing process that can build up to two satellites a day on a series production line dedicated to the assembly, integration, and testing of the satellites.
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