OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, last week launched 36 satellites to bring the company a step closer to starting commercial service by the end of the year.
The satellites are manufactured by OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus Defence and Space based in Space Coast, Florida. The venture developed a production line process for manufacturing the satellites that dramatically lowers costs and also significantly accelerates output. With two production lines in its Florida factory, each line can build one satellite in a single eight-hour shift, allowing OneWeb Satellites to produce satellites at a scale that will enable OneWeb to rapidly build out its full constellation.
This latest launch will add 36 satellites to OneWeb’s constellation, as it works to complete its 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity. This launch represents 80 percent of the constellation required to enable its connectivity solution to reach all regions north of 50 degrees latitude by June 2021.
This will be the fourth in a five-launch programme to fulfil the ‘Five to 50’ service, enabling OneWeb to offer connectivity across the United Kingdom, Alaska, Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic Seas and Canada. This service is expected to be switched on before the end of the year and OneWeb intends to make global service available in 2022.
