Arianespace deploys OneWeb satellites in low-Earth orbit

Space Connect reports that Arianespace has confirmed Soyuz Flight ST31 deployed 36 new OneWeb satellites into orbit in late-May following a successful launch from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Flight ST32 was the 57th Soyuz mission carried out by Arianespace and its Starsem affiliate, and the seventh mission undertaken on behalf of OneWeb.

This latest mission has taken the total of OneWeb satellites launched into low-Earth orbit by Arianespace to 218.

Arianespace is expected to oversee a further 12 Soyuz launches through 2021 and 2022, enabling OneWeb to deploy its full global constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites before the end of 2022.

The satellites aim to create a global connectivity platform through a satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit, delivering high-speed, low-latency connectivity to a wide range of customer sectors, including aviation, maritime, enterprise and governments.

OneWeb Satellites is a joint venture of OneWeb and Airbus Defence and Space.