Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, launched a Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday with 40 internet satellites for rival OneWeb.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Eight minutes later, the rocket’s first stage booster landed back at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/axfShpTw0o
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 8, 2022
It was SpaceX’s 16th mission of the year overall and the third one dedicated to the OneWeb launch.
Last year, the company switched launch providers from Soyuz rockets to SpaceX and Indian rockets after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
OneWeb has another reservation with SpaceX for a mission with Iridium in 2023.
With the 40 internet satellites on Thursday’s flight, OneWeb has launched 584 satellites overall.
The company used 17 rockets: 13 Soyus rockets, three SpaceX Falcon 9 flights, and one Indian GSLV Mk.3.
However, OneWeb reported two failed satellites, meaning it has 582 active spacecraft.
It will launch 36 more internet satellites on an Indian GSLV Mk.3 rocket, scheduled for 26 March.
Hence, OneWeb will have 588 satellites for global internet coverage.
The company plans to launch 650 satellites for its first-generation network, including spares.
CEO of OneWeb, Neil Masterson, said it’s only one mission away from completing the Gen 1 constellation.
OneWeb is dedicated to keeping the momentum from the past 17 successful launches and delivering connectivity solutions worldwide.
Read also:
