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| {{Short description|Global communications company}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Eutelsat OneWeb]] |
| {{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
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| {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
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| {{Infobox company
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| | name = OneWeb
| | {{R from former name}} |
| | image = File:KSC-20170316-PH KLS01 0007~orig.jpg
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| | image_caption = Model of a 1st Generation OneWeb satellite
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| | logo = OneWeb Logo.png
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| | logo_caption =
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| | logo_size = 220px
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| | type = [[Private company|Private]]
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| | industry = [[Satellite Internet access]]
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| | predecessor = WorldVu Satellites
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| | successor =
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| | foundation = {{Start date and age|2012||}}
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| | founder = [[Greg Wyler]]<ref name="tech review"/><ref name="SN-200504"/><ref name="ars-200330"/>
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| | defunct =
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| | location = [[London]], England, UK<ref name=pr-20180308>{{cite news|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oneweb-finalizes-executive-team-appointments-leading-up-to-the-launch-of-global-constellation-and-services-300610596.html|title=OneWeb Finalizes Executive Team Appointments Leading Up to the Launch of Global Constellation and Services|agency=PR Newswire|author=OneWeb|date=8 March 2018 |access-date=22 April 2019}}</ref>
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| | area_served = Worldwide | |
| | key_people = Neil Masterson {{small|([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])}}<ref name=sn20201120/>
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| | products =
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| | owner = {{ubl|[[Bharti Enterprises]] (30%)|[[Eutelsat]] (22.9%)|[[UK Government]] (17.6%)|[[SoftBank]] (17.6%)|[[Hanwha Group|Hanwha]] (8.8%)|[[Hughes Network Systems]] and others (3.1%) <ref name="Eutelsat">{{citation |title=Eutelsat Investor Presentation May 2022 |publisher=Eutelsat}}</ref>}}
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| | num_employees = {{Increase}} ~600
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| | num_employees_year = March 2022
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| | parent =
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| | subsid = Airbus OneWeb Satellites (50% owner)
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| | website = {{Official URL}}
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| }} | | }} |
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| '''OneWeb''' '''Network Access Associates Limited'''<ref name="NAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.oneweb.world/privacy-policy|title=Privacy Policy|publisher=OneWeb World|access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref> is a communications company that aims to build [[Broadband#Computer networks|broadband]] [[Satellite Internet access|satellite Internet services]].<ref name="pr-20180308" /><ref name="govuk">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/18m-for-oneweb-satellite-constellation-to-deliver-global-communications|title=ยฃ18m for OneWeb satellite constellation to deliver global communications|publisher=UK Space Agency|date=2019-02-18}}</ref> The company is headquartered in London, and has offices in Virginia, US<ref>{{cite web|last=Yamazaki|first=Makiko|date=19 December 2016|title=SoftBank to invest US$1 billion in U.S. venture OneWeb as part of US$50 billion pledge|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oneweb-softbank-idUSKBN14818O|access-date=28 March 2020|work=Reuters}}</ref> and a satellite manufacturing facility in [[Florida]]{{snd}}Airbus OneWeb Satellites{{snd}}that is a joint venture with [[Airbus Defence and Space]]. The company was formerly known as '''WorldVu Satellites Ltd'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/virgin-qualcomm-invest-in-global-satellite-internet-plan/|title=Virgin, Qualcomm Invest in OneWeb Satellite Internet Venture|publisher=SpaceNews|date=15 January 2015|access-date=15 February 2018|last=de Selding|first=Peter B.}}</ref><ref name="prnewswire">{{cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oneweb-announces-plans-to-launch-a-new-satellite-constellation-to-bring-high-speed-internet-to-underserved-areas-around-the-world-288708881.html|title=OneWeb Announces Plans to Launch a New Satellite Constellation to Bring High-Speed Internet to Underserved Areas Around the World|publisher=PR Newswire|date=15 January 2015 |access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref>
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| The company was founded by [[Greg Wyler]] in 2012<ref name="tech review">{{cite web|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/04/07/998555/podcast-the-satellite-boom-that-threatens-to-clog-the-skies/ |title=Podcast: The satellite boom that threatens to clog the skies|publisher=MIT Technology Review|access-date=2020-05-04}}</ref><ref name="SN-200504">{{cite web|title=Soyuz launches 34 OneWeb satellites |url=https://spacenews.com/soyuz-launches-34-oneweb-satellites/|date=2020-03-21|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=2020-05-04}}</ref> and launched its first satellites in February 2019. It entered bankruptcy in March 2020 after [[liquidity crisis|failing to raise the required capital]] to complete the build and deployment of the remaining 90% of the network. The company emerged from the bankruptcy proceedings and reorganization in November 2020 with a new ownership group. As of 2021, Indian multinational company [[Bharti Enterprises|Bharti Global]], France-based satellite service provider [[Eutelsat]] and the [[Government of the United Kingdom]] were the company's largest shareholders, while Japan's [[SoftBank]] retained an equity holding of 12%.<ref name=sn20201120/><ref name=sn-20210115/>
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| == History ==
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| [[File:OneWeb satellite manufacturing facility, Merritt Island, Florida, 2019 01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|OneWeb satellite manufacturing facility in [[Merritt Island, Florida]].]]
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| The company was founded in 2012 under the name WorldVu,<ref name="prnewswire"/> and was based in Britain's [[Channel Islands]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://spacenews.com/41755worldvu-a-satellite-startup-aiming-to-provide-global-internet/|title=WorldVu, a Satellite Startup Aiming To Provide Global Internet Connectivity, Continues To Grow Absent Clear Google Relationship|publisher=SpaceNews|last=de Selding|first=Peter B.|date=3 September 2014|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref>
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| === Google participation and transfer of the spectrum ===
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| Early reports of the potential involvement of [[Google]] in offering broadband internet services surfaced in February 2014, when a "very large [[satellite constellation | [satellite] constellation]]" was rumored to be in the plans with as many as 1600 satellites.<ref name=m_pa20140216>{{cite news|last1=Messier|first1=Doug|title=Is Google Planning Son of Teledesic?|url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/02/16/google-planning-son-teledesic/|access-date=2014-06-14|publisher=Parabolic Arc|date=2014-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702125309/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/02/16/google-planning-son-teledesic/|archive-date=2014-07-02|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2014, the early concept had been to have at least 20 satellites operating in each of 20 [[Orbital plane (astronomy)|orbital plane]]s to provide consistent internet coverage over the surface of the [[Earth]].<ref name=m_sn20140530/>
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| By June 2014, WorldVu (later to be renamed to OneWeb) had acquired the satellite spectrum that was formerly owned by SkyBridge, a company that went bankrupt in 2000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://qz.com//satellite-internet-is-a-space-business-widow-maker-so-why-does-elon-musk-want-in/|title=Satellite internet is a space business widow-makerโso why does Elon Musk want in? โ Quartz|first=Tim|last=Fernholz|website=Quartz|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> in a much earlier attempt to offer broadband Internet services via satellite.<ref name=m_srb20140603>{{cite news|last1=Boucher|first1=Marc|title=Will Google Build a Satellite Constellation?|url=http://spaceref.biz/company/will-google-build-a-satellite-constellation.html|access-date=2014-06-14|publisher=SpacRef Business |date=2014-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716035558/http://spaceref.biz/company/will-google-build-a-satellite-constellation.html|archive-date=2014-07-16|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| By September 2014, the WorldVu company had 30 employees, and several Google employees who had joined Google as part of the acquisition of [[O3b Networks]] in 2013 โ [[Greg Wyler]], [[Brian Holz]] and [[David Bettinger]] โ left Google to become a part of WorldVu Satellites Ltd. They took with them the rights to a certain radio frequency spectrum that could be used to provide Internet access. At the time, WorldVu was working closely with [[SpaceX]] and SpaceX's founder [[Elon Musk]] to explore satellite internet services,<ref>{{cite news|title=Google Satellite Employee Greg Wyler Leaves Company|url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/google-satellite-executive-greg-wyler-leaves-company-1409708338|access-date=2014-08-03|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=2014-08-02|url-access=subscription |quote=''A key employee leading Google Inc.'s efforts to beam Internet access from satellites has left the company and is now working closely with Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and its founder Elon Musk, according to people familiar with the matter... It isn't clear why the WorldVu team departed Google.''|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905143850/http://online.wsj.com/articles/google-satellite-executive-greg-wyler-leaves-company-1409708338|archive-date=2014-09-05|url-status=live}}</ref> although no formal relationship had been established and no launch commitments had been made in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=WorldVu, a Satellite Startup Aiming To Provide Global Internet Connectivity, Continues To Grow Absent Clear Google Relationship |url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/satellite-telecom/41755worldvu-a-satellite-startup-aiming-to-provide-global-internet|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140903223335/http://www.spacenews.com/article/satellite-telecom/41755worldvu-a-satellite-startup-aiming-to-provide-global-internet|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 September 2014 |publisher=SpaceNews|date=2014-08-03|access-date=2014-08-03}}</ref>
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| === SpaceX, initial manufacturing plans ===
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| By November 2014, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that Musk and Wyler were considering options for building a factory to manufacture high-volume low-cost satellites, and that "initial talks had been held with state officials in [[Florida]] and [[Colorado]]" about potentially locating a factory in those states,<ref name=m_wsj20141107/> as well as that SpaceX would likely launch the satellites.<ref name=m_wsj20141107>{{cite news|last1=Winkler|first1=Rolfe|last2=Pasztor|first2=Andy|title=Elon Musk's Next Mission: Internet Satellites SpaceX, Tesla Founder Explores Venture to Make Lighter, Cheaper Satellites |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musks-next-mission-internet-satellites-1415390062|access-date=2017-10-19|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=2014-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020033331/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musks-next-mission-internet-satellites-1415390062|archive-date=2017-10-20|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in November 2014, WorldVu issued a tender "to satellite manufacturers for 640 125-kg satellites", asking for responses by mid-December 2014, having secured regulatory approval for use of the requisite [[electromagnetic spectrum]] [[Radio frequency|communication frequencies]] in mid-2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/11/11/worldvu-satellites-issues-rfp-640-satellites/|last1=Messier |first1=Doug|title=WorldVu Satellites Issues RFP for 640 Satellites|publisher=Parabolic Arc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129012801/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/11/11/worldvu-satellites-issues-rfp-640-satellites/|archive-date=2014-11-29|url-status=live|date=2014-11-11|access-date=2014-11-15}}</ref><ref>Rolfe Winkler, "Elon Musk Confirms SpaceX Is Building Internet Satellites", The Wall Street Journal, 11/11/2014</ref>
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| The 2014 OneWeb solicitation to satellite manufacturers was for a total build of approximately 900 [[Small satellite|small Internet-delivery satellites]], including ground and on-orbit spares. Responses were received from both European and American manufacturers including [[Airbus Defence and Space]], [[Lockheed Martin Space|Lockheed Martin Space Systems]], [[OHB SE]], [[SSL (company)|SSL]] and [[Thales Alenia Space]], and discussions focused on how each of these companies might "escape their status-quo histories as major space hardware contractors and remake themselves into producers capable of producing multiple satellites per month, each with a cost of fewer than US$500,000".<ref name=m_sn20150319/> OneWeb announced that it planned to form a [[joint venture]] with the winning bidder and open a new facility for manufacturing the new [[smallsat]]s.<ref name=m_sn20150319>{{cite news|last1=de Selding|first1=Peter B.|title=Competition To Build OneWeb Constellation Draws 2 U.S., 3 European Companies |url=http://spacenews.com/competition-to-build-oneweb-constellation-draws-2-u-s-3-european-companies/|access-date=20 March 2015|publisher=SpaceNews|date=2015-03-19}}</ref>
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| === Funding from Virgin Group and Qualcomm ===
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| In January 2015, ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported that WorldVu, now operating under the name OneWeb Ltd, had secured funding from [[Virgin Group]] and [[Qualcomm]] to build and launch the constellation.<ref name=":m_1"/><ref name="sn20150115"/> OneWeb also divulged that the planned satellites would weigh approximately 125 kg and that the plans were to deploy approximately 650 of them in [[low Earth orbit]] to operate at {{cvt|1200|km}} [[Geocentric orbit|altitude]].<ref name=":m_1">{{cite news|title=Greg Wyler's OneWeb Satellite-Internet Company Secures Funding|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/greg-wylers-oneweb-satellite-internet-company-secures-funding-1421278832|last1=Winkler|first1=Rolfe|work=The Wall Street Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115122352/http://www.wsj.com/articles/greg-wylers-oneweb-satellite-internet-company-secures-funding-1421278832|archive-date=2015-01-15|url-status=live|date=2015-01-14|access-date=2015-01-15}}</ref><ref name=sn20150115>{{cite news|last1=de Selding |first1=Peter B.|title=Virgin, Qualcomm Invest in OneWeb Satellite Internet Venture|url=http://spacenews.com/virgin-qualcomm-invest-in-global-satellite-internet-plan/ |access-date=16 January 2015 |publisher=SpaceNews|date=15 January 2015}}</ref> Just a few days later, Elon Musk announced the rival [[Starlink]] venture, with the opening of the [[Starlink|SpaceX satellite development facility]] in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], with the intent of taking [[SpaceX]] itself into the business of internet provision and internet [[Backhaul (telecommunications)|backhaul services]], initially announced as aiming to build an approximately 4000-satellite constellation, with the first generation becoming operational in approximately 2020.<ref name=lat20150116>{{cite news|last1=Petersen|first1=Melody |title=Elon Musk and Richard Branson invest in satellite-Internet ventures|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-satellite-entrepreneurs-20150117-story.html|access-date=19 January 2015|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119045513/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-satellite-entrepreneurs-20150117-story.html|archive-date=19 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| The satellites for the OneWeb constellation were initially announced to be in the {{cvt|110|kg}} class, about the same size as the two Earth-imaging satellites that were then operated by [[SkySat|Skybox Imaging]], which Google [[Mergers and acquisitions|acquired]] in August 2014.<ref name=sn20150115/><ref name=syboxPress20140801>{{cite press release|url=http://www.skyboximaging.com/blog/skybox-imaging-google|title=Skybox Imaging + Google|publisher=Skybox Imaging|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113015519/http://www.skyboximaging.com/blog/skybox-imaging-google|date=2014-08-01|access-date=2014-11-12|archive-date=2014-11-13|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=sfn20140610>{{cite news|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1406/10google/#.U5ymfrHigfE|title=Google buys startup Skybox Imaging for US$500 million |date=2014-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614203846/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1406/10google/#.U5ymfrHigfE|publisher=Spaceflight Now|archive-date=2014-06-14|access-date=2014-06-15|url-status=live}}</ref> However, by the following year, sources put the satellites nearer {{cvt|150|-|200|kg}} in mass.<ref name=m_sn20150319/><ref name="bbc20150625"/>
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| === Pre-launch agreements and investments ===
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| In 2015, OneWeb secured US$500 million in funding, and agreed to purchase certain future launch services, from existing aerospace industry companies [[Arianespace]] and [[Virgin Galactic]].<ref name=nbc20150625>{{cite news|title=OneWeb Wins US$500 Million in Backing for Internet Satellite Network|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/oneweb-wins-500-million-backing-internet-satellite-network-n381691|publisher=NBC News|last=Boyle|first=Alan|date=2015-06-25|access-date=2016-02-08}}</ref><ref name=sn20140530>{{cite news|title=Google-backed Global Broadband Venture Secures Spectrum for Satellite Network|url=http://spacenews.com/40736google-backed-global-broadband-venture-secures-spectrum-for-satellite/|publisher=SpaceNews|last=de Selding|first=Peter B.|date=2014-05-30|access-date=2016-02-08}}</ref> In June 2015, OneWeb also entered into a deal with [[Airbus Defence and Space]] for the construction of its broadband Internet satellites after a competition among American and European manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web|title=OneWeb selects Airbus to build 900 Internet satellites|publisher=Spaceflight Now|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/06/15/oneweb-selects-airbus-to-build-900-internet-satellites/|first=Stephen |last=Clark|access-date=2016-02-08}}</ref>
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| In July 2016, one year after the initial announcement, OneWeb stated they were on schedule.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/one-year-after-kickoff-oneweb-says-its-700-satellite-constellation-is-on-schedule/|title=One year after kickoff, OneWeb says its 700-satellite constellation is on schedule|last=de Selding|first=Peter B.|date=6 July 2016|access-date=28 March 2020|publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref> In December 2016, OneWeb raised US$1 billion from [[SoftBank Group|SoftBank Group Corp.]] and US$200 million from existing investors.<ref name=sn201702/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/oneweb-softbank/softbank-to-invest-1-billion-in-u-s-satellite-venture-oneweb-idUSL4N1EE3I6|title=SoftBank to invest US$1 billion in U.S. satellite venture OneWeb|last=Weir|first=Keith|work=Reuters|date=19 December 2016|access-date=2016-12-19}}</ref>
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| In February 2017, OneWeb announced that it expected to sell all of its capacity by launch time.<ref name="sn201702" /> At the time, it had formally announced capacity sold for a joint [[Gogo Inflight Internet|Gogo]] and [[Intelsat]] venture.<ref name="sn201702"/> OneWeb's founder and then executive chairman [[Greg Wyler]] announced he was considering nearly quadrupling the size of the satellite constellation by adding 1972 additional satellites that OneWeb had priority rights to.<ref name=sn201702>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-weighing-2000-more-satellites/|title=OneWeb weighing 2,000 more satellites |publisher=SpaceNews|last=Pultarova|first=Tereza|date=24 February 2017|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> With the original capital raise of US$500 million in 2015, plus the US$1 billion investment of SoftBank in 2016, previous "investors committed to an additional US$200 million, bringing OneWeb's total capital raised to US$1.7 billion".<ref name=sn201702/> A [[merger]] arrangement with [[Intelsat]] that had been in negotiations during May 2017 collapsed in June 2017 and did not go forward.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/oneweb-says-no-steam-lost-despite-intelsat-merger-unravelling/|title=OneWeb says no steam lost despite Intelsat merger unravelling|publisher=SpaceNews|last=Henry|first=Caleb|date=1 June 2017|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref>
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| === Manufacturing and constellation rollout ===
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| The constellation was originally announced in June 2014 to be just half of the total of approximately 720 satellites. A quarter of the satellites were to make up the initial constellation, and these would operate in the lower of the two proposed orbits, at approximately {{cvt|850|km}}.<ref name=m_srb20140603/> The initial constellation would presumably be raised or lowered into its final orbital altitude of either {{cvt|800|km}} or {{cvt|950|km}} as consumer and business use of the broadband service grows over time.<ref name=m_sn20140530>{{cite news|last1=de Selding|first1=Peter B.|title=Google-backed Global Broadband Venture Secures Spectrum for Satellite Network|url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/satellite-telecom/40736google-backed-global-broadband-venture-secures-spectrum-for-satellite|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140615104011/http://www.spacenews.com/article/satellite-telecom/40736google-backed-global-broadband-venture-secures-spectrum-for-satellite|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2014 |publisher=SpaceNews|date=2014-05-30|access-date=2014-06-14}}</ref> By early 2015, OneWeb indicated that the first launches would occur no earlier than 2017.<ref name=sn20150115/>
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| In February 2016, OneWeb announced that they would set up an assembly and test facility in [[Florida]] with plans to assemble and launch the majority of the satellites by the end of 2019, while manufacturing an additional 250 of the 140 kg-satellites as spares to be used in later years.<ref name="m_wsj20160203">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/oneweb-satellite-startup-to-set-up-manufacturing-in-florida-1454523492|title=OneWeb Satellite Startup to Set up Manufacturing in Florida|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=2016-01-03|access-date=2016-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203231155/http://www.wsj.com/articles/oneweb-satellite-startup-to-set-up-manufacturing-in-florida-1454523492|archive-date=2016-02-03|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| In 2019, OneWeb had formed a joint venture, OneWeb Satellites, with the European company [[Airbus Defence and Space]] in order to manufacture its satellites in higher volume and at lower cost than any satellites previously built by Airbus. A manufacturing facility was built in [[Merritt Island, Florida]]. Initial satellite production at the new facility began in mid-2019 and by January 2020, the factory reached the target production rate of two satellites per day.<ref name=sn20200206>{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-plans-april-launch-break-to-tweak-satellite-design/|title=OneWeb plans April launch break to tweak satellite design|publisher=SpaceNews|last=Henry|first=Caleb|date=6 February 2020|access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref>
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| By the time the actual orbital deployment of the constellation began, in February 2019, the planned constellation size had settled once again at 648, near the original projection, with 600 active satellites with 48 on-orbit spares.<ref name=sn20190227>{{cite news|last=Henry|first=Caleb|url=https://spacenews.com/first-six-oneweb-satellites-launch-on-soyuz-rocket/|title=OneWeb's first six satellites in orbit following Soyuz launch|publisher=SpaceNews|date=27 February 2019|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref>
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| In January 2020, OneWeb reached a production rate of two satellites per day. In February 2020, the company launched its first large batch of satellites.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-plans-april-launch-break-to-tweak-satellite-design/|title=OneWeb plans April launch break to tweak satellite design|date=6 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/02/04/first-satellites-off-onewebs-new-florida-assembly-line-set-for-launch-this-week/|title=First satellites off OneWeb's new Florida assembly line set for Launch this week|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=6 February 2020}}</ref>
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| In January 2021, OneWeb amended its application with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) to change the number of satellites planned for its Phase Two constellation to 6,372.<ref>{{cite web |first=Samantha |last=Mathewson|title=Arianespace to launch new fleet of OneWeb internet satellites tonight. Here's how to watch.|date=24 March 2021|url=https://www.space.com/arianespace-oneweb-5-satellites-launch-webcast|access-date=2021-06-30|publisher=Space.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=OneWeb launches 36 more satellites for LEO broadband fleet|date=June 2021|url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/oneweb-launches-36-more-satellites-for-leo-broadband-fleet|newspaper=Fierce Wireless|access-date=2021-06-30}}</ref>
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| === First launches and additional investments ===
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| On 27 February 2019, OneWeb launched its first six satellites into 1,200 km <ref>{{cite web|title=OneWeb - Satellite Missions|url=https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/o/oneweb|access-date=2020-10-23|website=directory.eoportal.org}}</ref> [[low Earth orbit]] from the [[Guiana Space Centre|Centre Spatial Guyanais]] in [[French Guiana]] using a [[Soyuz-2]] launch vehicle.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Hanneke |first=Weitering |date=2019-02-27 |title=Soyuz Rocket Will Launch the 1st OneWeb Satellites Today |url=https://www.space.com/arianespace-oneweb-satellites-launch-webcast.html |access-date=2019-02-27 |publisher=Space.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oneweb.world/newsroom/oneweb-makes-history-as-first-launch-mission-is-a-success|title=OneWeb makes history as first launch mission is a success|date=2019-02-28 |publisher=OneWeb|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515095707/https://www.oneweb.world/newsroom/oneweb-makes-history-as-first-launch-mission-is-a-success|url-status=dead}}</ref> The same day OneWeb announced that it had signed its first two client agreements marking the beginning of its commercialization.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.oneweb.world/newsroom/oneweb-announces-first-two-client-agreements-start-of-commercial-network-commercialisation|title=OneWeb Announces First Two Client Agreements - Start of Commercial Network Commercialisation|publisher=OneWeb|date=2019-02-27|access-date=2019-02-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512165012/https://www.oneweb.world/newsroom/oneweb-announces-first-two-client-agreements-start-of-commercial-network-commercialisation|archive-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> On 18 March 2019, OneWeb announced it had secured US$1.25 billion in funding following a successful first launch. The funding was from existing investors [[SoftBank Capital|SoftBank]] and [[Qualcomm]], as well as [[Grupo Salinas]] and the [[Politics of Rwanda|Government of Rwanda]].<ref name=bloomberg20190318>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-18/oneweb-raises-fresh-1-25-billion-for-internet-system-from-space?|title=OneWeb Raises Fresh US$1.25 Billion for Internet System From Space |publisher=Bloomberg|last=Vance|first=Ashlee|author-link=Ashlee Vance|date=18 March 2019|access-date=21 March 2020}}</ref>
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| By August 2019, the company had six of its satellites broadcasting at the right frequencies for 90 days, meeting the "use-it-or-lose-it" spectrum conditions set by the [[United Nations]]' [[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU).<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-07/oneweb-claims-a-win-in-internet-space-race-with-musk-and-bezos?srnd=markets-vp|title=OneWeb Claims a Win in Internet Space Race Against Musk and Bezos|last=Seal|first=Thomas|publisher=Bloomberg|date=7 August 2019|access-date=12 November 2019}}</ref> This secured the vital rights OneWeb needed to operate its global satellite broadband network.<ref name=":1"/>
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| In February and March 2020, the company launched an additional 68 satellites to orbit, stating that launches would be paused to allow a minor design modification to be made before planning to resume in May 2020.<ref name=sn20200206/>
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| === Bankruptcy ===
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| On 27 March 2020, OneWeb Global Limited and 18 affiliates filed for [[bankruptcy]] in the [[United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/30/oneweb-files-for-bankruptcy/|title=OneWeb files for bankruptcy|last=Clark|first=Stephen|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=30 March 2020|access-date=30 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="wired-bankrupt">{{cite news|last=Oberhaus|first=Daniel|date=27 March 2020|title=SpaceX Competitor OneWeb Is Reportedly Bankrupt|publisher=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-competitor-oneweb-is-reportedly-bankrupt|access-date=28 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="ars-200330">{{cite web|last=Brodkin|first=Jon|date=2020-03-30|title=OneWeb goes bankrupt, lays off staff, will sell satellite-broadband business|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/03/oneweb-goes-bankrupt-wont-challenge-spacex-in-satellite-broadband-race/|access-date=2020-05-04|publisher=Ars Technica}}</ref> The company said the decision was made because of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="sn20200327">{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy/|title=OneWeb files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy|publisher=SpaceNews|last=Henry|first=Caleb|date=27 March 2020|access-date=28 March 2020}}</ref> The company laid off approximately 85% of its approximately 500 employees, but retained the capability to control its operational satellites during the period of court protection.<ref name="sn20200327"/><ref name="wired-bankrupt"/>
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| On 3 July 2020, a consortium led by [[Bharti Enterprises|Bharti Global]] and the [[Government of the United Kingdom]] won the auction to purchase the bankrupt company.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sunil Mittal's Bharti Global, UK govt win bid for bankrupt satellite firm OneWeb |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/current/corporate/sunil-mittals-bharti-global-uk-govt-wins-bid-for-bankrupt-satellite-firm-oneweb/story/408837.html |website=businesstoday.in|date=3 July 2020 |access-date=2020-07-03}}</ref><ref name=":5"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2020/07/03/uk-government-wins-controversial-bid-for-bankrupt-mega-constellation-firm-oneweb/|last=O'Callaghan|first=Jonathan|title=U.K. Government Wins Controversial Bid For Bankrupt Mega Constellation Firm OneWeb|work=Forbes|access-date=2020-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-to-acquire-cutting-edge-satellite-network|title=Press release: UK government to acquire cutting-edge satellite network|website=gov.uk|publisher=Cabinet Office Government Digital Service|date=2020-07-03|access-date=2020-07-03}}</ref> The sale closed in November, allowing the company to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite web|date=2020-11-20|title=OneWeb emerges from Chapter 11 with new CEO|url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-emerges-from-chapter-11-with-new-ceo/|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=2021-06-30}}</ref>
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| === Exit from bankruptcy protection ===
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| On 3 July 2020, the [[Government of the United Kingdom]] and [[Sunil Mittal]]'s [[Bharti Enterprises|Bharti Global]] (formerly a partner of OneWeb) announced a joint plan to invest US$500 million each for equal stakes in OneWeb Global, approximately 42% each; the rest would be held by other creditors including [[Softbank]]. The UK government would also hold a [[golden share]] to give it control over any future sales.<ref name=":5">{{cite news|date=3 July 2020|title=UK government takes ยฃ400 million stake in satellite firm OneWeb|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53279783}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/01e4d379-ac2d-4ca3-9724-b0a982d1fa4f|title=UK to enter satellite race after winning bid for OneWeb|publisher=Financial Times|date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref name=sn-20210115/> The plan was approved by the [[United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York]] on 10 July 2020,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53370930/|title=OneWeb sale to UK-Bharti group gets court approval|work=BBC News|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=10 July 2020|access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref> and the deal closed in November 2020, allowing OneWeb to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
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| In July 2020, [[Hughes Network Systems]] invested US$50 million in the consortium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/hughes-to-invest-50-million-in-bharti-uk-consortium-for-oneweb/article32206002.ece|title=Hughes to invest US$50 million in Bharti-UK consortium for OneWeb|website=thehindubusinessline.com|date=27 July 2020 |access-date=2020-07-29}}</ref> The same month, the UK government stated an intention to repurpose the OneWeb satellites for its own [[United Kingdom Global Navigation Satellite System|Global Navigation Satellite System]].<ref name=":5"/><ref name="telegraph-20200925">{{cite news |last=Diver|first=Tony|date=25 September 2020|title=Britain scraps satellite programme designed to replace Galileo after Brexit|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/25/britain-scraps-satellite-programme-designed-replace-galileo/|url-access=subscription|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref>
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| Shortly after the July public announcement of the OneWeb sale, a letter from Sam Beckett, the leading [[Civil Servant|civil servant]] in the UK [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]] (BEIS), was released. In the letter, Beckett raised concerns that taxpayers' money could be at risk. The comments were made as part of a request for "ministerial direction", therefore it was required that the letter be made public and any concerns raised be formally overruled. BEIS minister [[Alok Sharma]] overrode the concerns and proceeded with the bid.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-07-22|title=Minister overrode warning about "risky" OneWeb bid|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53506960|access-date=2020-10-04}}</ref>
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| On 21 September 2020, OneWeb announced that their contract with [[Arianespace]] would allow them to resume satellite launch in December 2020.<ref name="SFN200922">{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/09/22/oneweb-to-resume-launches-in-december-after-bankruptcy/|title=OneWeb to resume launches in December after bankruptcy|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=22 September 2020|access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref>
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| === New CEO, launches accelerating ===
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| In November 2020, the company announced that [[Neil Masterson]], formerly chief operating officer at media company [[Thomson Reuters]], had been appointed CEO.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-12-18|title=OneWeb satellite company launches into new era|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55365434|access-date=2021-06-30}}</ref> The company launched 36 additional satellites on 17 December 2020.<ref name="sn20201120">{{cite news|date=2020-12-18|title=OneWeb emerges from Chapter 11 with new CEO|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55365434|access-date=2020-12-19}}</ref> Furthermore, OneWeb announced plans to accelerate launches in 2021 so that the 650 satellites necessary for global coverage would be in orbit by 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=UK government buys chunk of bankrupt Starlink competitor, OneWeb|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/11/1724845/|access-date=2020-11-23|last=Hollinger|first=Peggy|publisher=Financial Times|via=Ars Technica|date=2020-11-22}}</ref>
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| === 2021 ===
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| In January 2021, a further funding round raised $400 million from SoftBank and Hughes Network Systems, with SoftBank getting a director seat on OneWeb's board. This brought available funding to $1.4 billion, which "positions the company" to fund its first-generation fleet of 648 satellites, but would be insufficient to fund full deployment of the constellation by mid-2022. OneWeb chairman, Sunil Mittal, estimated about a further $1 billion is required, but did not anticipate difficulty in raising that.<ref name=sn-20210115>{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-raises-400-million/|title=OneWeb raises US$400 million|last=Foust|first=Jeff|publisher=SpaceNews|date=15 January 2021|access-date=25 February 2021}}</ref>
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| In April 2021, OneWeb launched its sixth batch of satellites to orbit. It comprised 36 units, bringing the total in-orbit constellation to 182.<ref>{{cite news|date=2021-04-26|title=OneWeb launches sixth batch of internet satellites|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56890153|access-date=2021-04-27}}</ref> In the same month, it was also reported that [[Eutelsat]] was putting ยฃ400M into the company, in return for a 24% equity stake.<ref>{{cite news|date=2021-04-27|title=OneWeb receives major investment from Eutelsat|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56906121|access-date=2021-04-28}}</ref> Eutelsat's stake decreased to 19.3% when Bharti Global increased its holding in June 2021.<ref name="spacenews">{{cite news |title=Eutelsat ups its OneWeb stake with additional $165 million |url=https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-ups-its-oneweb-stake-with-additional-165-million/ |access-date=5 November 2021 |publisher=Space News}}</ref>
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| In May 2021, OneWeb announced plans to buy TrustComm, a U.S.-based managed satellite communications provider. After the purchase, the company became OneWeb's government distribution partner.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-05-10|title=OneWeb creating government subsidiary after buying TrustComm|url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-creating-government-subsidiary-after-buying-trustcomm/|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=2021-08-13}}</ref>
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| In May 2021, OneWeb's seventh launch took the number of satellites in orbit to 218, to create the second largest fleet behind [[Starlink]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Arianespace launches 36 OneWeb internet satellites on Soyuz rocket|url=https://www.space.com/arianespace-soyuz-launches-36-oneweb-7-satellites|publisher=Space.com|date=2021-05-28|access-date=2021-08-20}}</ref>
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| By comparison Starlink had 1,700 satellites by the end of 2021.
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| In June 2021, Oneweb raised an additional US$500M from Bharti Global, increasing Bharti's holding to 38.6%.<ref>{{cite web|title=OneWeb fully-funded with new US$500m investment. Secures US$2.4 billion in total funding|url=https://www.oneweb.world/media-center/oneweb-fully-funded-with-new-500m-investment-secures-2-4bn-in-total-funding|access-date=2021-06-30|website=oneweb.world}}</ref> In August 2021, [[Hanwha Systems]] invested $300 million to purchase an 8.8% share in OneWeb, enabling Hanwha to appoint one member of the board of directors and bring its own [[Dual-use technology|dual-use]] defense and satellite technology to the company.<ref>{{cite web|title=Korea's Hanwha Systems invests US$300 million in Bharti-backed OneWeb for 8.8% share |url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/koreas-hanwha-systems-invests-300m-in-bharti-backed-oneweb-for-8-8-share/85262012|website=ET Telecom|date=12 August 2021|access-date=2021-08-12}}</ref>
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| OneWeb became the founding member of [[Indian Space Association]] (ISpA). ISpA will act as bridge between [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO) and private industries to form the space ecosystem in India.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-10-11|title=Bharti's OneWeb, ISRO Arm Collaborate To Launch Satellite In India From 2022|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/bhartis-oneweb-isro-arm-collaborate-to-launch-satellite-in-india-from-2022-7568491.html|website=Moneycontrol|access-date=2021-10-11}}</ref>
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| === 2022 Russia controversy ===
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| In March 2022, media reported that OneWeb was scheduled to launch a batch of 36 satellites from Russia despite the UK's sanctions against that country due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There were calls for the UK to cancel the launch.ย Russia said the launch had already been paid for and would not be refunded, and would be cancelled from the Russian side unless OneWeb provided additional assurance that the satellites would never be used for military purposes and the British Government disposed of its shares in the company. The British government refused this demand and the launch was cancelled, along with other Russian launches.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/03/02/taxpayer-backed-oneweb-uses-russian-rockets-satellite-launch/|title = Taxpayer-backed OneWeb uses Russian rockets for satellite launch|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 2 March 2022|last1 = Oliver|first1 = Matt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/03/02/kremlin-holds-36-taxpayer-owned-satellites-hostage-oneweb-stand/|title = Kremlin holds 36 UK taxpayer-owned satellites hostage in OneWeb stand-off|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 2 March 2022|last1 = Titcomb|first1 = James}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60587154.amp|title=UK rejects Russian demand to sell satellite share|date=2 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uk-rejects-russian-ultimatum-on-oneweb-soyuz-rocket-launches-zwq9xvd56|title=UK rejects Russian ultimatum on OneWeb Soyuz rocket launches|last1=Goddard|first1=Alex Ralph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/2/22958082/russia-roscosmos-oneweb-soyuz-launch-demands-ukraine-invasion|title = Russia holds OneWeb rocket launch hostage, issues conditional demands|date = 2 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/russia-satellite-launch-uk-ukraine-war-oneweb-b2026598.html|title = Russia gives update on satellite launches|website = [[Independent.co.uk]]|date = 2 March 2022}}</ref> OneWeb tried much through negotiations to get back the stack of 36 oneweb satellites stranded in Kazakhstan due to political reasons. However, these negotiations never progressed and as OneWeb was on the verge of completing 1st generation oneweb satellite network, they have given up hope on March 2023, on further attempting to get back the satellites valued at $50 million, potentially scrapping the batch. The satellites were insured and OneWeb received the insurance money for them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=2023-03-15 |title=OneWeb 'moves on' from Soyuz-stranded satellites as its network nears completion |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/oneweb-moves-on-soyuz-stranded-satellites-its-network-nears-completion-2023-03-15/ |access-date=2023-03-16}}</ref>
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| === SpaceX/NSIL launch services ===
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| On 21 March 2022, OneWeb announced that it had signed a launch agreement with United States launch provider [[SpaceX]] to launch the remaining satellites on Falcon 9 rockets, with the first launch expected no earlier than summer 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OneWeb agrees satellite programme with SpaceX |url=https://oneweb.net/resources/oneweb-resume-satellite-launches-through-agreement-spacex |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=OneWeb |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1505918153666220036|user=thesheetztweetz|title=On the sidelines of #SATShow, OneWeb senior advisor Ruth Pritchard-Kelly tells press that the "soonest" the first launch with SpaceX can happen "would be this summer." "But we don't know yet" a more specific timeframe.|author=Michael Sheetz}}</ref> On 20 April 2022 OneWeb announced a similar deal with [[NewSpace India Limited]], the commercial arm of the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=OneWeb agrees satellite launch programme with New Space India |url=https://oneweb.net/resources/oneweb-agrees-satellite-launch-programme-new-space-india |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=OneWeb |language=en}}</ref> OneWeb satellites were deployed by [[LVM 3]] both on 22 October 2022 and 26 March 2023,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oneweb.net/resources/successful-launch-36-oneweb-satellites-isronsil-marks-key-milestone-enable-global|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326102616/https://oneweb.net/resources/successful-launch-36-oneweb-satellites-isronsil-marks-key-milestone-enable-global|title=Successful launch of 36 OneWeb Satellites with ISRO/NSIL marks key milestone to enable global connectivity|date=27 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|access-date=27 March 2023|publisher=[[OneWeb]]|url-status=live}}</ref> using a lightly modified version of the satellite dispenser previously used on Soyuz.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=William |date=2022-10-22 |title=OneWeb resumes launches with first commercial GSLV Mk.III |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/oneweb-gslv-mk-iii/ |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=U |first=Tejonmayam |date=23 October 2022 |title=Isro's heaviest rocket successfully places 36 OneWeb satellites into orbits |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isros-heaviest-rocket-successfully-places-36-oneweb-satellites-into-orbits/articleshow/95039625.cms |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
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| SpaceX was originally contracted to launch three missions for OneWeb.<ref name="ARSTECH20221202">{{cite news |last1=Berger |first1=Eric |title=After bankruptcy and war, OneWeb turns to a competitor for help |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/12/oneweb-sets-a-launch-date-for-next-week-on-a-falcon-9-rocket/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condรฉ Nast |date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211014023/https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/12/oneweb-sets-a-launch-date-for-next-week-on-a-falcon-9-rocket/ |archive-date=11 December 2022 | url-status = live}}</ref> However, an additional flight was contracted on 11 January 2023 for summer 2023 to add backup satellites in orbit.<ref name="SN20230110">{{cite news |last1=Rainbow |first1=Jason |title=OneWeb two launches away from going global after SpaceX launch |url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-two-launches-away-from-going-global-after-spacex-launch/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=Space News |publisher=Pocket Ventures LLC |date=10 January 2023 |location=Boulder, Colorado}}</ref> Three flights have been completed so far, the first flight was back on 8 December 2022,<ref name="SN20221208">{{cite news |last1=Rainbow |first1=Jason |title=SpaceX launches 40 satellites in first of three missions for OneWeb |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-40-satellites-in-first-of-three-missions-for-oneweb/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=Space News |publisher=Pocket Ventures LLC |date=8 December 2022 |location=Boulder, Colorado}}</ref> and the second was on 10 January 2023.<ref name="SFNSpaceX2">{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Stephen |title=SpaceX sends 40 more OneWeb internet satellites into orbit |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/01/10/falcon-9-oneweb-16-live-coverage/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=SpaceFlight Now |date=10 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130182325/https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/01/10/falcon-9-oneweb-16-live-coverage/ |archive-date=30 January 2023 | url-status = live}}</ref>ย As of early March 2023, there are 584 OneWeb satellites in orbit (two of which are unoperational),<ref name="SFNSpaceX2"/> with SpaceX having successfully launched its third flight for OneWeb on March 9, 2023, with a load of 40 satellites.
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| === Merger with Eutelsat ===
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| The merger of OneWeb and France's [[Eutelsat]] โ an operator of [[geostationary satellites]] โ was announced in July 2022.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 July 2022 |title=Eutelsat and OneWeb to combine: a leap forward in Satellite Connectivity |url=https://www.eutelsat.com/en/news/press.html#/pressreleases/eutelsat-and-oneweb-to-combine-a-leap-forward-in-satellite-connectivity-3195697 |access-date=6 August 2022 |website=Eutelsat}}</ref> OneWeb shareholders would receive 50% of the enlarged share capital while the British government would retain its [[golden share]] or "special share" in OneWeb itself,<ref name=bbc20220726>{{cite news |last=Amos|first=Jonathan |title=Satellite firms Eutelsat and OneWeb aim to combine operations |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62306617 |date=26 July 2022 |access-date=6 August 2022 |work=[[BBC News]] }}</ref> in a transaction which valued OneWeb at $3.4 billion USD (ยฃ2.8 billion).<ref>{{Cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 26 July 2022 |title=UK satellite firm OneWeb and France's Eutelsat sign initial merger deal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/26/uk-satellite-oneweb-france-eutelsat-merger-deal-elon-musk-starlink |access-date=3 March 2023 |work = The Guardian | agency = Reuters | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230303034210/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/26/uk-satellite-oneweb-france-eutelsat-merger-deal-elon-musk-starlink | archive-date = 3 March 2023 | url-status = live}}</ref> The French and British governments are expected to have similar direct stakes of roughly 10% in the new joint entity as well as a seat on the board each.<ref name="WSJ20220726">{{cite news |last1=Ruberg |first1=Sara |title=Deal Struck to Create European Satellite Rival to Elon Musk's Starlink |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/oneweb-and-eutelsat-two-european-satellite-firms-agree-to-merge-11658848413?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1 |access-date=4 March 2023 |work= The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp |date=26 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802034057/https://www.wsj.com/articles/oneweb-and-eutelsat-two-european-satellite-firms-agree-to-merge-11658848413?page=1 |archive-date=2 August 2022 |location=New York | url-status = live}}</ref>
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| The board of directors structure, when the deal is finalized in second or third quarter 2023, will have Eutelsat chair Dominique DโHinnin and CEO Eva Berneke continue in their same roles for the combined company. Sunil Bharti Mittal, representing OneWeb, will be the co-chair.<ref name="BoardApprovesMerger">{{cite news |last1=Rainbow |first1=Jason |title=Eutelsat's board approves OneWeb merger |url=https://spacenews.com/eutelsats-board-approves-oneweb-merger/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=Space News |publisher=Pocket Ventures LLC |date=15 November 2022 |location=Boulder, Colorado}}</ref>ย [[Bpifrance]], Fonds Stratรฉgique de Participations, [[Hanwha Group]], and the British government are set to appoint one director each to the combined group's board.<ref name="BoardApprovesMerger"/> While OneWeb can appoint three more independent directors and Eutelsat can select four.<ref name="BoardApprovesMerger"/>
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| ==Intended markets==
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| In March 2021, OneWeb stated its market would be primarily to businesses, governments including defence, phone network operators and clusters of communities, rather than to individual domestic customers which [[Starlink]] primarily targets.<ref name=bbcr4-20210304>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000srgc |series=The Bottom Line |title=The Satellite Business |interviewer-last=Davis |interviewer-first=Evan |publisher=BBC Radio 4 |date=4 March 2021 |access-date=6 March 2021 |time=16m30s |quote=''Chris McLaughlin (OneWeb):'' So it is going to be price sensitive so I think a lot of what happens in LEO will be both a function of government and of defence needs, and also of connectivity for network operators, so I am not certain in OneWeb's case we will be primarily focused on broadband to every individual but rather to businesses and governments and to clusters of communities.}}</ref><ref name=cnbc-20210329>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/25/onewebs-different-approach-to-satellite-internet-vs-elon-musks-spacex-starlink.html |title=OneWeb CEO: Here's why our product is different than Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |publisher=CNBC News |date=29 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021}}</ref> Users willing to connect were advised to contact their local telecom operator.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi6yAVdyVzk |publisher=OneWev |date=28 May 2021 |access-date=29 May 2021 |time=36m17s |quote =''It's simple: just ask your preferred local telecom operator... We are working with local telecom operators, who invest locally,.. so that we can connect users at scale.''|title=OneWeb Launch#7 }}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| == OneWeb satellite constellation ==
| |
| Initially, the OneWeb satellite constellation is planned to have 648 satellites in [[low Earth orbit]] (LEO) that can provide high-speed [[broadband internet]] to rural and isolated areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oneweb.world/media-center/oneweb-secures-investment-from-softbank-and-hughes-network-systems|title=OneWeb secures investment from Softbank and Hughes Network Systems|publisher=OneWeb |date=15 January 2021|access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref> As of January 2023, they have launched 544 satellites, with 542 being functional.<ref name="SFNSpaceX2" /> The constellation is planned for completion by the end of March 2023. OneWeb engineers will then take a few months to test the system before commercial service commences in the fourth quarter of 2023.<ref name="SN20220623">{{cite news |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=OneWeb to resume launches in fourth quarter |url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-to-resume-launches-in-fourth-quarter/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=Space News |publisher=Pocket Ventures LLC |date=23 June 2022 |location=Boulder, Colorado}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| The [[small satellite]]s were built by OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between [[Airbus Defence and Space|Airbus]] and OneWeb.<ref>{{cite web|date=2019-03-19|title=What Airbus learned from building satellites with OneWeb|url=https://spacenews.com/what-airbus-learned-from-building-satellites-with-oneweb/|website=spacenews.com|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> The satellites are in a [[circular orbit]], at approximately {{cvt|1200|km}} altitude,<ref name="m_wsj20160203"/> and transmitting and receiving in the [[Ku band|Ku-band]] [[radio frequency]].<ref name="m_sn20140530"/>
| |
|
| |
| OneWeb's first six satellites were launched on a [[Soyuz (rocket)|Soyuz rocket]] on 27 February 2019.<ref name="m_0">{{cite news|last=Clark|first=Stephen|date= 27 February 2019 | url = https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/02/27/first-six-oneweb-satellites-launched-from-french-guiana/ | title = First six OneWeb satellites launched from French Guiana | work = SpaceFlight Now |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228192401/https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/02/27/first-six-oneweb-satellites-launched-from-french-guiana/ | archive-date = 28 February 2019 | url-status = live |access-date=4 March 2023}}</ref> The first large batch of 34 satellites was launched on 6 February 2020,<ref name=m_cnn20200206/> and another 34 were put into orbit on 21 March 2020.<ref name="m_sn20200321">{{cite web|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|date=21 March 2020|url=https://spacenews.com/soyuz-launches-34-oneweb-satellites/ |title=Soyuz launches 34 OneWeb satellites|website=spacenews.com|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> These were [[#List of launches|followed by more launches]] in 2021. The [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in February 2022 meant that launches on the Soyuz rocket were suspended, and Arianespace had to find other launch providers for OneWeb.<ref name="ARSTECH20221202" /> Satellite launches resumed in quarter four of 2022 using the [[SpaceX Falcon 9]] and the Indian [[LVM3]] rockets.<ref name="SN20221208" />
| |
|
| |
| == Design ==
| |
| === First generation ===
| |
| The satellites in the OneWeb constellation are approximately {{cvt|150|kg}} in mass,<ref name=sn20190227/> a bit smaller than the 2015 design estimate of {{cvt|150|-|200|kg}}.<ref name=m_sn20150319/><ref name="bbc20150625">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33268180|title=OneWeb satellite operator eyes huge rocket campaign|publisher=BBC|date=25 June 2015|access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref> The 648 operational satellites are to operate in 12 near [[polar orbit]] planes at {{cvt|1200|km}} [[Geocentric orbit|altitude]], at 86.4ยฐ [[orbital inclination]]. Initially 18 orbital planes with 49 satellites per plane was planned, requiring 882 satellites plus some spares, but improved satellite coverage capability allowed this to be reduced to 12 planes of 49 satellites requiring 588 satellites plus some on-orbit spares.<ref name=spaceitbridge-20191007>{{cite news|url=https://www.spaceitbridge.com/oneweb-talks-satellite-broadband-speeds-constellation-configs.htm|title=OneWeb talks satellite broadband speeds, constellation configs|last=Mohney|first=Doug|publisher=Space IT Bridge|date=7 October 2019|access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref><ref name=spacenewsinterview>{{cite web |url=http://spacenews.com/in-conversation-with-oneweb-founder-greg-wyler/|title=Why OneWeb is Eager To Be the "Clean-up Crew of Connectivity"|date=20 November 2015|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref><ref name=mit-20181001>{{cite news|url=http://www.mit.edu/~portillo/files/Comparison-LEO-IAC-2018-slides.pdf|title=A Technical Comparison of Three Low Earth Orbit Satellite Constellation Systems to Provide Global Broadband|last1=del Portillo|first1=Inigo|last2=Cameron|first2=Bruce G.|last3=Crawley|first3=Edward F.|publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|id=IAC-18-B2.1.7|date=1 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225093826/http://www.mit.edu/~portillo/files/Comparison-LEO-IAC-2018-slides.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2021}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| The first-generation satellites do not have inter-satellite data links, so can only provide a user service when also in the range of a gateway ground station.<ref name=mit-20181001/> As of 2023, OneWeb expect the final operational constellation to be fewer than 1,000 satellites, instead of several thousands being considered earlier. A number of next generation satellites of about {{cvt|500|kg}} mass may be procured in the future.<ref name=bbc-20230311>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64906641 |title=OneWeb company close to taking the internet global |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |work=BBC News |date=11 March 2023 |access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| The satellites provide user service in the [[Ku band|Ku-band]].<ref name=m_sn20140530/><ref name=sn20150115/> Links to the gateway ground stations are in the [[Ka band|Ka-band]].<ref name=mit-20181001/> The satellites are designed to comply with "[[Space debris|orbital debris-mitigation]] guidelines for removing satellites from orbit and, for low-orbit satellites, assuring that they re-enter the [[Atmosphere of Earth|Earth's atmosphere]] within 25 years of retirement".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/airbus-wins-oneweb-contract/|title=OneWeb Taps Airbus To Build 900 Internet Smallsats|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=6 December 2022|date=2015-06-15}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| === Second generation ===
| |
| {{empty section|date=August 2023}}
| |
|
| |
| == Launches ==
| |
| [[File:LVM3 M2, OneWeb India-1 campaign 16.jpg|thumb|A stack of 36 OneWeb satellites ready for integration to [[LVM3]] rocket for its 14th launch]]
| |
| On 27 February 2019, OneWeb successfully launched the first six of the 648 planned 1st generation satellites (600 active plus 48 on-orbit spares) into low Earth orbit from the [[Guiana Space Centre|Centre Spatial Guyanais]] using a Russian [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz ST-B]] rocket.<ref name="m_0"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oneweb.world/newsroom/oneweb-makes-history-as-first-launch-mission-is-a-success|title=OneWeb makes history as first launch mission is a success|date=2019-02-28|publisher=OneWeb|access-date=2019-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228183229/https://www.oneweb.world/newsroom/oneweb-makes-history-as-first-launch-mission-is-a-success|archive-date=2019-02-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| === List of launches ===
| |
| In November 2019, OneWeb planned monthly launches to begin in January 2020,<ref name="Flight2_spacenews">{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/onewebs-first-big-deployment-launch-slips-to-january/ |title=OneWeb's first big deployment launch slips to January|publisher=SpaceNews|date=8 November 2019}}</ref> although the first of these launches was delayed to early February 2020,<ref name=m_cnn20200206>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/06/tech/oneweb-satellite-internet-launch-scn/index.html|title=The race for space-based broadband: OneWeb launches 34 more internet satellites |last=Wattles|first=Jackie|website=cnn.com|date=6 February 2020 |publisher=CNN|access-date=2020-02-07}}</ref> and bankruptcy and subsequent reorganization delayed the fourth launch to 18 December 2020.<ref name="bbc20201218">{{Cite news |date=2020-12-18 |title=OneWeb satellite company launches into new era |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55365434 |access-date=2023-03-09}}</ref> Since the fourth launch, OneWeb has launched five times from Vostochny; once from [[Kourou]]; thrice from [[Baikonur]]; twice from [[Sriharikota]] and four times from [[Cape Canaveral]], with the recent one being on 9 March 2023. Due to these launches, OneWeb takes its in-orbit mega-constellation to 634 operational satellites (2 satellites failed) that account for 97.84% operating out of 648 planned satellites<ref>{{cite web|title=OneWeb launch opens route to commercial service|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57674882|publisher=BBC News|date=2021-07-01|access-date=2021-07-01}}</ref> and making OneWeb the second largest satellite fleet in orbit. These satellites are sufficient to start operational use of the Gen 1 constellation.<ref>{{cite web|first=Amy |last=Thompson |date=2021-05-28|title=Arianespace launches 36 OneWeb internet satellites on Soyuz rocket|url=https://www.space.com/arianespace-soyuz-launches-36-oneweb-7-satellites|publisher=Space.com|access-date=2021-07-28}}</ref> In their latest launch they launch a Gen 2 demo satellite called "Joeysat" to test some technicalities of OnewebGen 2 constellation.
| |
| ====Generation 1 satellites====
| |
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
| |
| ! scope="col" | Flight No.
| |
| ! scope="col" | Date/Time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
| |
| !Launch complex
| |
| ! scope="col" | Launch site
| |
| ! scope="col" | Launch vehicle
| |
| !Launch agency
| |
| ! scope="col" | Number deployed
| |
| ! scope="col" | Outcome
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 1
| |
| | 27 February 2019 <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/02/oneweb-kick-start-massive-constellation-soyuz-st-b/|title=OneWeb kick starts massive constellation with Soyuz ST-B launch |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|first=Chris|last=Bergin|date=27 February 2019|access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz|Soyuz Launch Complex]]
| |
| | [[Guiana Space Centre]], [[Kourou]], [[French Guiana]], [[France]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz ST-B]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-MT]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 6 (test satellites)
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 2
| |
| | 6 February 2020 <ref name=m_cnn20200206/>
| |
| |[[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|Site 31]]
| |
| | [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], [[Baikonur]], [[Kyzylorda Region]],ย [[Kazakhstan]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 34 (first launch of operational satellites)
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 3
| |
| | 21 March 2020 <ref name="m_sn20200321"/>
| |
| |[[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|Site 31]]
| |
| | [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], [[Baikonur]], [[Kyzylorda Region]],ย [[Kazakhstan]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 34
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 4
| |
| | 18 December 2020 <ref name="SFN20201218">{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/12/18/oneweb-resumes-deployment-of-650-satellite-broadband-network/|title=OneWeb resumes deployment of 650-satellite broadband network|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=18 December 2020|access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=bbc20201218/>
| |
| |[[Vostochny Cosmodrome Site 1S|Site 1S]]
| |
| | [[Vostochny Cosmodrome]], [[Tsiolkovsky, Amur Oblast|Tsiolkovsky]], [[Amur Oblast]], [[Russia]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 36
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 5
| |
| | 25 March 2021 <ref name="sfn-20210325">{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/03/25/soyuz-launch-adds-36-satellites-to-onewebs-global-internet-network/|title=Soyuz launch adds 36 satellites to OneWeb's global internet network|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=25 March 2021|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Vostochny Cosmodrome Site 1S|Site 1S]]
| |
| | [[Vostochny Cosmodrome]], [[Tsiolkovsky, Amur Oblast|Tsiolkovsky]], [[Amur Oblast]], [[Russia]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 36
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 6
| |
| | 25 April 2021 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/flight-st31-arianespace-successfully-deploys-oneweb-constellation-satellites/|title=Flight ST31: Arianespace successfully deploys OneWeb constellation satellites|publisher=Arianespace|date=26 April 2021|access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Vostochny Cosmodrome Site 1S|Site 1S]]
| |
| | [[Vostochny Cosmodrome]], [[Tsiolkovsky, Amur Oblast|Tsiolkovsky]], [[Amur Oblast]], [[Russia]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 36
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 7
| |
| | 28 May 2021 <ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/flight-st32-arianespace-successfully-deploys-oneweb-constellation-satellites/|title=Flight ST32: Arianespace successfully deploys OneWeb constellation satellites|publisher=Arianespace|date=29 May 2021|access-date=30 May 2021}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Vostochny Cosmodrome Site 1S|Site 1S]]
| |
| | [[Vostochny Cosmodrome]], [[Tsiolkovsky, Amur Oblast|Tsiolkovsky]], [[Amur Oblast]], [[Russia]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| |''{{flagicon|Russia}}''ย [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 36
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 8
| |
| | 1 July 2021 <ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/flight-st33-arianespace-successfully-deploys-36-oneweb-constellation-satellites/|title=Flight ST33: Arianespace successfully deploys 36 OneWeb constellation satellites|publisher=Arianespace|date=1 July 2021|access-date=1 July 2021}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Vostochny Cosmodrome Site 1S|Site 1S]]
| |
| | [[Vostochny Cosmodrome]], [[Tsiolkovsky, Amur Oblast|Tsiolkovsky]], [[Amur Oblast]], [[Russia]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 36
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 9
| |
| | 21 August 2021 <ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/soyuz-st34-oneweb-success/|title=Following VA254 and VV19, Flight ST34 marks Arianespace's third successful launch in less than one month|publisher=Arianespace|date=22 August 2021|access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|Site 31]]
| |
| | [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], [[Baikonur]], [[Kyzylorda Region]],ย [[Kazakhstan]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 34
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 10
| |
| | 14 September 2021 <ref>{{cite tweet|last=Israรซl|first=Stรฉphane|user=arianespaceceo|number=1429285378851287054|title=We will be back on September 14 for our next @OneWeb launch, #ST35 - with one important milestone to @Arianespace's teams at this occasion ๐คซ. #MissionToSuccess|date=22 August 2021|access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|Site 31]]
| |
| | [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], [[Baikonur]],ย [[Kyzylorda Region]], [[Kazakhstan]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 34
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 11
| |
| | 14 October 2021 <ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/soyuz-st36-oneweb-success/|title=With Flight ST36, Arianespace sets a new mark; more than half of the OneWeb constellation now successfully deployed|publisher=Arianespace|date=14 October 2021|access-date=14 October 2021}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Vostochny Cosmodrome Site 1S|Site 1S]]
| |
| | [[Vostochny Cosmodrome]], [[Tsiolkovsky, Amur Oblast|Tsiolkovsky]], [[Amur Oblast]], [[Russia]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 36
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 12
| |
| | 27 December 2021
| |
| |[[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|Site 31]]
| |
| | [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], [[Baikonur]], [[Kyzylorda Region]],ย [[Kazakhstan]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| |''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 36
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 13
| |
| | 10 February 2022
| |
| |[[Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz|Soyuz Launch Complex]]
| |
| | [[Guiana Space Centre]], [[Kourou]], [[French Guiana]], [[France]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz ST-B]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-MT]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 34
| |
| | {{Success}}
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | -
| |
| | 4 March 2022
| |
| |[[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|Site 31]]
| |
| | [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], [[Baikonur]], [[Kyzylorda Region]],ย [[Kazakhstan]]
| |
| | [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz 2.1b]] / [[Fregat|Fregat-M]]
| |
| |''{{flagicon|Russia}}'' [[Roscosmos|Roscomos]]
| |
| | 36
| |
| | {{Scrapped|Aborted on launch pad, potentially scrapped<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=2023-03-15 |title=OneWeb 'moves on' from Soyuz-stranded satellites as its network nears completion |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/oneweb-moves-on-soyuz-stranded-satellites-its-network-nears-completion-2023-03-15/ |access-date=2023-03-16}}</ref>}}
| |
| |-
| |
| | 14
| |
| | 22 October 2022 <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/oct/06/indias-heaviest-rocket-to-make-global-foray-on-october-22-2505380.html |title=India's heaviest rocket to make global foray on October 22 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=6 October 2022 |access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad|Second Launch Pad]]
| |
| | [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]], [[Sriharikota]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| |
| | [[LVM3]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|India}}'' [[NewSpace India Limited]]
| |
| | 36
| |
| |{{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 15
| |
| | 8 December 2022 <ref>{{cite tweet |author=Peter B De Selding |user=pbdes |number=1545325655260372993|title=.@OneWeb gets @ITU Ok for 8-month extension, to July 2023, to deploy Q/V-band payload after @SpaceX Falcon 9 launch in December. |date=8 July 2022 |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|Launch Complex 39A]]
| |
| | [[Kennedy Space Center]], [[Merritt Island, Florida|Merrit Island]], [[Florida]], [[United States|USA]]
| |
| | [[Falcon 9 Block 5]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|USA}}'' [[SpaceX]]
| |
| | 40
| |
| |{{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 16
| |
| | 10 January 2023 <ref name="SFNSpaceX2"/>
| |
| |[[Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40|Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40)]]
| |
| | [[Cape Canaveral]], [[Merritt Island, Florida|Merrit Island]], [[Florida]], [[United States|USA]]
| |
| | [[Falcon 9 Block 5]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|USA}}'' [[SpaceX]]
| |
| | 40
| |
| |{{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 17
| |
| | 9 March 2023<ref name="Schedule20230304">{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Stephen |title=Launch Schedule |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=SpaceFlight Now |date=2 March 2023}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40|Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40)]]
| |
| | [[Cape Canaveral]], [[Merritt Island, Florida|Merrit Island]], [[Florida]], [[United States|USA]]
| |
| | [[Falcon 9 Block 5]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|USA}}'' [[SpaceX]]
| |
| | 40
| |
| |{{Success}}
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 18
| |
| | 26 March 2023<ref>{{cite web |last=Davenport |first=Justin |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/03/oneweb-18/ |title=OneWeb completes initial constellation with launch from India |date=26 March 2023 |access-date=26 March 2023 |work=[[NASASpaceFlight]]}}</ref>
| |
| |[[Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad|Second Launch Pad]]
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| | [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]], [[Sriharikota]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
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| | [[LVM3]]
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| | ''{{flagicon|India}}'' [[NewSpace India Limited]]
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| | 36
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| |{{Success}}
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|
| |
| |-
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| | 19
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| | 20 May 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=2022-12-08 |title=SpaceX delivers for rival OneWeb with sunset launch from Kennedy Space Center โ Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/12/08/falcon-9-oneweb-15-coverage/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |language=en-US |quote=Ladovaz said OneWeb has added one more launch with SpaceX on top of the three missions announced earlier this year. The extra launch will be a rideshare mission with Iridium, Ladovaz said Thursday.}}</ref>
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| | [[Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4|SLC-4E]]
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| | [[Vandenberg Space Force Base]], [[Santa Barbara County|Santa Barbara]], [[California]], [[United States|USA]]
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| | [[Falcon 9 Block 5]]
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| | ''{{flagicon|USA}}'' [[SpaceX]]
| |
| | 15
| |
| |{{Success}}
| |
| |}
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|
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| Total number of operational satellites: 634 as of 20 May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 May 2023 |title=OneWeb confirms successful deployment of 16 satellites including next-generation JoeySat |url=https://oneweb.net/resources/oneweb-confirms-successful-deployment-16-satellites-including-next-generation-joeysat |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=OneWeb.net}}</ref>
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|
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| ====Generation 2 satellites====
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| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
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| ! scope="col" | Flight No.
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| ! scope="col" | Date/Time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
| |
| !Launch complex
| |
| ! scope="col" | Launch site
| |
| ! scope="col" | Launch vehicle
| |
| !Launch agency
| |
| ! scope="col" | Number deployed
| |
| ! scope="col" | Outcome
| |
|
| |
| |-
| |
| | 1
| |
| | 20 May 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=2022-12-08 |title=SpaceX delivers for rival OneWeb with sunset launch from Kennedy Space Center โ Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/12/08/falcon-9-oneweb-15-coverage/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |language=en-US |quote=Ladovaz said OneWeb has added one more launch with SpaceX on top of the three missions announced earlier this year. The extra launch will be a rideshare mission with Iridium, Ladovaz said Thursday.}}</ref>
| |
| | [[Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4|SLC-4E]]
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| | [[Vandenberg Space Force Base]], [[Santa Barbara County|Santa Barbara]], [[California]], [[United States|USA]]
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| | [[Falcon 9 Block 5]]
| |
| | ''{{flagicon|USA}}'' [[SpaceX]]
| |
| | 1 (test satellite)
| |
| |{{Success}}
| |
| |}
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|
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| == Active internet services ==
| |
| In May 2021, OneWeb said that its then current constellation (218 spacecraft), as well as an additional 36 satellites planned to launch on 1 July 2021, would be equipped to service northern regions, including the [[United Kingdom]], [[Alaska]], [[Northern Europe]], [[Greenland]], [[Iceland]], the [[Arctic Ocean|Arctic Seas]], and [[Canada]], by the end of the year.<ref name="m_:2">{{cite web|title=OneWeb surpasses 200 satellites with Soyuz launch|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/28/oneweb-surpasses-200-satellite-mark-with-soyuz-launch/|publisher=Spaceflight=1.0|access-date=2021-07-28}}</ref>
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|
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| The company's 648-satellite network was planned for completion by late 2022, with OneWeb making global internet services available at that time.<ref name="m_:2"/> Owing to launch delays from Roscosmos (see above) the constellation was not completed until mid 2023 following three launches in the first half of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-07 |title=OneWeb confirms launch schedule into 2023 |url=https://paxex.aero/oneweb-launch-schedule-2023/ |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=PaxEx.Aero |language=en-US}}</ref>
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|
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| By the end of June 2023, services were covering most of Europe and the United States.ย Global coverage is expected to be available by the end of 2023 once all satellites are in their final positions and the ground stations completed. <ref>{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2023 |title=OneWeb expands services, launches commercial service across large parts of Europe and the US |url=https://oneweb.net/resources/oneweb-expands-services-launches-commercial-service-across-large-parts-europe-and-us}}</ref>
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|
| |
| == Concerns ==
| |
| === End-of-life concerns ===
| |
| With such a large number of satellites being added to the already crowded [[low Earth orbit]], plans for handling the satellites once the operational life of each satellite is completed are an important consideration. Concerns about adding to the existing [[space debris]] problem have been expressed.<ref name=m_srb20140603/>
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|
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| With OneWeb satellites having higher orbits than the competing [[Starlink]] megaconstallation satellites (which will deorbit in ~5 years without action due to atmospheric drag), OneWeb satellites will not passively deorbit in a reasonable timeframe. As such, each OneWeb satellite has fuel allocated to be able to actively deorbit at its end of life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-vouches-for-high-reliability-of-its-deorbit-system/|title=OneWeb vouches for high reliability of its deorbit system|date=10 July 2017|publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref> OneWeb satellites are also equipped with an [[Altius Space Machines|Altius]] DogTag magnetic grappling fixture, to make it possible for another spacecraft to attach and change the orbit of satellites whose built-in deorbit functionality fails, though there does not currently exist commercial services to carry out this [[active debris removal]] service.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2468896720300975|title=The development of commercially viable ADR services: Introduction of a small-satellite grappling interface|year=2020|journal=Journal of Space Safety Engineering|doi=10.1016/j.jsse.2020.08.002|last1=MacLay|first1=Timothy|last2=Goff|first2=Jonathan|last3=Sheehan|first3=J.P.|last4=Han|first4=Earl|volume=7|issue=3|pages=364โ368|bibcode=2020JSSE....7..364M |s2cid=208652675}}</ref> The risk of a OneWeb satellite becoming a source of debris was determined to be <0.01, which meets [[NASA]]'s Technical Standard.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brodkin|first=Jon|date=2017-10-04|title=SpaceX and OneWeb broadband satellites raise fears about space debris|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/10/spacex-and-oneweb-broadband-satellites-raise-fears-about-space-debris/|publisher=Ars Technica|access-date=2021-08-20}}</ref>
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|
| |
| === Interference with other Earth-bound transceivers ===
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| OneWeb competitor, satellite fleet operator [[ABS (satellite operator)|ABS]], has expressed concerns about the amount of [[electromagnetic interference]] that the OneWeb constellation could add to existing terrestrial transceivers.<ref>[http://spacenews.com/oneweb-gets-slide-decked-by-competitor-at-casbaa/ OneWeb Gets Slide Decked by Competitor at CASBAA] SpaceNews, 28 October 2015, accessed 2015-10-29</ref>
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|
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| === Russian security concerns ===
| |
| Vladimir Sadovnikov of the [[Federal Security Service]] (FSB) stated in 2018 that the FSB was opposed to OneWeb covering Russia, saying that OneWeb could be used for espionage purposes.<ref name="reuters20181024">{{cite news|editor-first=Richard|editor-last=Balmforth |editor2-first=Alison|editor2-last=Williams |title=Russia opposes U.S. OneWeb satellite service, cites security concerns|first=Maria|last=Kolomychenko |work=Reuters|url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oneweb-russia-security-exclusive/exclusive-russia-opposes-u-s-oneweb-satellite-service-cites-security-concerns-idUSKCN1MY1P8 |date=24 October 2018|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190303141435/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oneweb-russia-security-exclusive/exclusive-russia-opposes-u-s-oneweb-satellite-service-cites-security-concerns-idUSKCN1MY1P8 |archive-date=3 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> OneWeb's request for a frequency band was previously rejected by the Ministry for Digital Development and Communications, purportedly due to outstanding legal issues.<ref name="reuters20181024"/> FSB also proposed increasing scrutiny on other [[Satellite Internet access|satellite Internet]] equipment in Russia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://roskomsvoboda.org/42992/ |title=ะกะฟััะฝะธะบะพะฒัะน ะธะฝัะตัะฝะตั vs ะคะกะ: ัะฐะทะฒะธัะธะต ัะตั
ะฝะพะปะพะณะธะน ะธะปะธ ัะฐะผะพะธะทะพะปััะธั?|website=roskomsvoboda.org |access-date=2018-11-15|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181115195405/https://roskomsvoboda.org/42992/ |archive-date=2018-11-15|url-status=live}}</ref>
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|
| |
| == Competition ==
| |
| As of January 2023, the major competitor is [[SpaceX]]'s [[Starlink]] satellite network with over 1 million customers. While OneWeb will only work with partner [[telephone companies]],<ref name=bbc-20201120>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55016402|title=OneWeb satellite internet company is officially reborn|last=Amos |first=Jonathan|publisher=BBC News|date=20 November 2020|access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref> SpaceX is also serving consumers directly.
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|
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| Competition to OneWeb for producing smaller and lower-cost satellites, in general, is thought to come "from other makers of [[small satellite]]s, thought to include companies such as Nevada-based [[Sierra Nevada Corporation|Sierra Nevada Corp.]] and Britain's [[Surrey Satellite Technology|Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.]]" as of 2014.<ref name=m_wsj20141107/>
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|
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| [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] announced a large broadband internet satellite constellation proposal in April 2019, planning to launch up to 3,236 satellites in the next decade in what Amazon calls "[[Kuiper Systems|Project Kuiper]]", a [[satellite constellation]] that will work in concert<ref name=cnbc20190404>{{cite news|last=Sheetz|first=Michael|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/amazon-project-kuiper-broadband-internet-small-satellite-network.html|title=Amazon wants to launch thousands of satellites so it can offer broadband internet from space|publisher=CNBC|date=4 April 2019|access-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404151556/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/amazon-project-kuiper-broadband-internet-small-satellite-network.html|archive-date=4 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| with Amazon's previously announced large network of 12 satellite ground station facilities (the "[[Amazon Web Services|AWS]] Ground Station unit") announced in November 2018.<ref name=cnbc20181127>{{cite news |last=Sheetz|first=Michael|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/27/amazon-launches-aws-ground-station-satellite-data-collection-service.html|title=Amazon cloud business reaches into space with satellite connection service|publisher=CNBC|date=27 November 2018|access-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407001146/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/27/amazon-launches-aws-ground-station-satellite-data-collection-service.html|archive-date=7 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
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|
| |
| Historically, earlier companies that have attempted to build satellite internet service networks and provide space-based internet connections have not fared well, as these services were hobbled by high costs which consequently attracted few users. [[Iridium Communications|Iridium SSC]] filed for bankruptcy protection in 1999, [[Globalstar]] did the same in 2002, and [[Teledesic]] suspended its satellite construction work in the same year.<ref name=m_wsj20141107/>
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|
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| == See also ==
| |
| {{Portal|Spaceflight}}
| |
| * [[Iridium satellite constellation]] โ 82 operational satellites used to provide global satellite phone services.
| |
| * [[Orbcomm (satellite)|Orbcom satellite constellation]] โ 29 operational satellites used to provide global asset monitoring and messaging services.
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| * [[Starlink|Starlink satellite constellation]] โ a development project underway by [[SpaceX]] to deploy nearly 12,000 satellites in three orbital shells by the mid-2020s.
| |
| * [[China national satellite internet project]]
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| * [[Lynk Global]] โ a satellite-to-mobile-phone satellite constellation with the objective of coverage to traditional low-cost mobile devices
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| * [[Teledesic]] โ a former (1990s) venture to accomplish broadband satellite internet services
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| * [[Viasat, Inc.]] โ a current broadband satellite provider providing fixed, ground mobile, and airborne antennas
| |
|
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| == References ==
| |
| {{Reflist}}
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|
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| == External links ==
| |
| * {{Official website|https://oneweb.net}}
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|
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| {{Bharti Enterprises}}
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| {{Authority control}}
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|
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| [[Category:Satellite Internet access]]
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| [[Category:Communications satellite operators]]
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| [[Category:Aerospace companies]]
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| [[Category:Satellite telephony]]
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| [[Category:British companies established in 2012]]
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| [[Category:British brands]]
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| [[Category:Companies based in London]]
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| [[Category:American companies established in 2012]]
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| [[Category:Companies based in Arlington County, Virginia]]
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| [[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020]]
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| [[Category:Softbank portfolio companies]]
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| [[Category:Bharti Enterprises]]
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