Arianespace readies for OneWeb launch
February 7, 2022
By Chris Forrester
Arianespace says it is ready for a planned February 10th launch of 34 OneWeb low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites.
The launch, subject to the usual weather considerations, will happen on a Soyuz rocket from the Kourou launch complex in French Guiana.
Current plan is for launch at 15.09pm, French Guiana time (18.09 pm UTC).
Arianespace’s Flight VS27 will put 34 of OneWeb’s satellites into a near-polar orbit at an altitude of 450 kms. The total duration of the mission will be 3 hours and 33 minutes and will include nine satellite deployments and separations, after which the satellites will subsequently raise themselves to their target operational orbits.
Once deployed, the OneWeb constellation will work with user terminals that are capable of offering 3G, LTE, 5G and Wi-Fi coverage, providing high-speed access globally – by air, sea and land.
This launch will take the total of OneWeb craft to 428 satellites.
The next OneWeb missions through 2022 will enable the start of OneWeb’s global services this year.