OneWeb orders New Space India launch
April 21, 2022
By Chris Forrester
OneWeb, which has suffered the cancellation of its satellite launch contracts with Russia, has ordered a series of Indian rocket launches.
OneWeb has signed an agreement with New Space India, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation. The agreement, says OneWeb, will help ensure it completes its satellite launch programme.
The first launch with New Space India is anticipated in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. The launches will add to OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation of 428 satellites, 66 per cent of the planned total fleet, to build a global network that will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, OneWeb’s Executive Chairman, said: “This is yet another historic day for collaboration in space, thanks to the shared ambition and vision of New Space India and OneWeb. This most recent agreement on launch plans adds considerable momentum to the development of OneWeb’s network, as we work together across the space industry toward our common goal of connecting communities globally.”
This launch contract follows a separate agreement between OneWeb and SpaceX to enable the company to resume satellite launches, announced in March 2022. OneWeb has already activated service with its network at the 50th parallel and above, as demand for the company’s broadband connectivity services continues to grow from multiple sectors and markets.
Other terms of the agreement with New Space India are confidential.