OneWeb has announced an agreement with SpaceX. Thanks to him, the company will be able to resume launches after breaking off relations with Roscosmos and complete the satellite constellation to ensure secure industrial-level communications around the world.
The first launch is scheduled for 2022. It should complete the overall OneWeb orbital constellation, which now has 428 satellites (66% of the fleet).
In addition, the company spoke about the conclusion of an agreement with Speedcast, a leading provider of communications and IT services. It will become OneWeb's distribution partner, integrating low-Earth orbit satellite communications into the Unified Global Speedcast Platform (UGP). First trials for energy and corporate clients of Speedcast will begin in mid-2022.
On March 2 this year, Rogozin said that Roscosmos would not launch a rocket with OneWeb satellites if there were no guarantees for their use for civilian purposes. Guarantees must be submitted before March 4, the launch itself was scheduled for March 5 this year. On March 3, the OneWeb board of directors voted to suspend all launches from Baikonur. British Minister for Business, Energy and Industry Kwasi Kwarteng said that the British government supports the OneWeb solution and is reviewing its space relationship with the Russian Federation. As a result, cooperation between Roskosmos and OneWeb ceased, the rocket with satellites was removed from the launch complex.
bbabo.Net