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| OneWeb Reaches Satellite Fleet Goal for Global Internet via Indian Launch |
Introduction
The article
discusses the recent successful launch of 36 additional satellites by OneWeb, a
London-based company, aboard India's LVM3 rocket. With the new Indian Launch
for Global Internet Service, OneWeb's Satellite Fleet Reaches Critical Mass and
now has a total of 618 spacecraft in orbit, which is enough to begin global
broadband service later this year. The article highlights the significance of
this achievement for OneWeb, given the company's decade-long effort to develop,
build, and launch the OneWeb network. Despite facing challenges like bankruptcy
and geopolitical tensions, the company remained focused on delivering a network
that would provide connectivity for customers and communities that need it
most. The article also briefly discusses OneWeb's competitors in the satellite
internet industry, such as SpaceX and Amazon's Kuiper.
OneWeb's Latest Launch
OneWeb, a
London-based company, successfully launched an additional 36 satellites aboard
India's LVM3 rocket on March 25th, 2023. This launch marks the 18th dedicated
launch for OneWeb satellites and the penultimate launch for the
first-generation satellite network. The deployment of these satellites
increases the amount of OneWeb spacecraft in orbit, changing it to 618, which
is sufficient for the company to begin global broadband service later this
year. The mission was facilitated by the Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO) and New Space India Limited (NSIL).
OneWeb's Journey
OneWeb has
been on a decade-long journey to develop, build, and launch a satellite network
to provide global broadband service. Despite facing bankruptcy and other
challenges, the company has remained focused on its goal. With the successful
deployment of the 36 additional satellites, OneWeb now has a total of 618
satellites in orbit, enough to start global broadband service later this year.
The launch marks a significant milestone for the company and the broader
satellite internet industry. OneWeb is just one of several companies vying to
provide internet service to people around the world through constellations of
small satellites in low Earth orbit, with SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper
among the other major players in the industry.
Launch Details
From
the Satish Dhawan Space Center situated on Sriharikota Island on the eastern
coast of India, the GSLV Mk.3, India's most potent rocket, took off. The
rocket's initial trajectory was towards the southeast over the Bay of Bengal,
but it veered south to avoid Sri Lanka. The S200 solid rocket boosters
generated an impressive 2.2 million pounds of thrust, which propelled the LVM3
rocket off the launch pad at the Indian spaceport with incredible speed.
Approximately two minutes into the flight, the rocket's two core stages' air-lit Vikas engines were ignited, and the spent boosters were discarded, falling into the ocean. Soon after, the nose cone detached, revealing the OneWeb satellites attached to a dispenser structure. The core stage separated, and the cryogenic third stage began firing its hydrogen-fueled engine for over 10 minutes, accelerating the OneWeb satellites to orbital velocity.
At T+19 minutes and 42 seconds, the OneWeb satellites were separated from their dispenser on the GSLV's upper stage. Massimiliano Ladovaz, OneWeb's Chief Technology Officer, confirmed that ground controllers had contacted all 36 satellites after their deployment from the Indian launch vehicle. According to the U.S. military's tracking data, the rocket had placed the satellites in an on-target near-circular orbit with an altitude of around 380 miles (450 kilometers) and an inclination of 87.4 degrees to the equator.
OneWeb's Satellites
OneWeb's
satellites are designed to provide low-latency broadband internet signals to
customers worldwide. Each of the satellites weighs about 325 pounds (147.5
kilograms at launch) and is built in a factory just outside the gates of NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The satellites are built by a joint venture
between OneWeb and Airbus Defense and Space.
With the
successful launch of 36 more satellites on March 25, 2023, OneWeb now has a
total of 618 spacecraft in orbit, which is enough to start global broadband
service later this year. These satellites are in low Earth orbit and will work
together to provide internet coverage to areas where traditional infrastructure
is lacking.
Competitors in the Industry
OneWeb is
not the only company aiming to provide internet services through satellite
constellations in low Earth orbit. Two of the other major players in the
industry include Elon Musk's SpaceX and Amazon's Kuiper. SpaceX's Starlink
constellation has already launched more than 3,800 satellites, while Amazon's
Kuiper constellation is still in its early stages, with plans to launch its
first prototype satellites later this year and eventually deploy more than
3,200 satellites in the coming years. Despite the competition, OneWeb has made
significant progress in recent months and is expected to begin offering
broadband services later this year.
OneWeb's Progress
OneWeb has
made significant progress in recent months, despite facing financial troubles
and bankruptcy in the past. The successful launch of 36 additional satellites
marks a critical milestone for the company in its efforts to provide global
internet coverage. With a total of 618 satellites now in orbit, OneWeb is
poised to begin global broadband service later this year. The company's
satellites are designed to provide low-latency broadband internet signals to
customers worldwide.
Although
OneWeb faces competition from other major players in the industry, such as
SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper, the company has demonstrated its
commitment to delivering a reliable and efficient network. OneWeb's success in
launching a large number of satellites, despite the challenges it has faced, is
a testament to the company's dedication and expertise in the field of satellite
internet technology.
As more
people around the world gain access to high-speed internet, the potential for
economic and social benefits is enormous. OneWeb's mission to provide global
broadband service has the potential to transform the lives of millions of
people, particularly in underserved and remote regions where traditional
internet infrastructure is not available.
Significance of the Launch
The
successful launch of 36 more OneWeb satellites is a significant achievement for
the company and the broader satellite internet industry. With the addition of
these satellites, OneWeb now has a total of 618 spacecraft in orbit, which is
enough to start its global broadband service later this year. This launch marks
the 18th dedicated launch for OneWeb's satellites and the second-to-last launch
for the first-generation satellite network. The company has one more scheduled
launch of spare spacecraft in May 2023 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Despite
facing bankruptcy and the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year,
OneWeb has remained focused on delivering a network that will provide
connectivity for customers and communities that need it most. With enough
satellites in orbit to begin global broadband service, OneWeb is poised to make
a major impact in the coming years. As more people around the world gain access
to high-speed internet, the potential for economic and social benefits is
enormous.
Conclusion
The
successful launch of 36 more satellites by OneWeb marks a significant milestone
in the company's journey towards global broadband service. With a total of 618
spacecraft in orbit, OneWeb is now ready to offer connectivity to customers and
communities around the world. Despite facing bankruptcy and geopolitical
challenges, the company has remained committed to its mission of delivering
high-speed internet access to underserved areas. OneWeb is competing with other
major players in the satellite internet industry, including SpaceX and Amazon's
Kuiper, but has made significant strides in recent months. As more people gain
access to high-speed internet, the potential for economic and social benefits
is enormous. The successful deployment of OneWeb's satellites is a step towards
achieving this goal and changing lives at scale.