Author Topic: Eutelsat OneWeb: Mega-constellation/Company - General Thread  (Read 656500 times)

Offline Skyrocket

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OneWeb has selected Airbus to build their +900 LEO comsats (<150 kg each) for global internet connectivity. 1st launch will be in 2018.

The initial 10 satellites will be built at Toulouse, France, while the remainder wil be built at a dedicated plant in the USA.

http://airbusdefenceandspace.com/newsroom/news-and-features/airbus-defence-and-space-selected-to-partner-in-production-of-oneweb-satellite-constellation/



edit/gongora:
This is just a summary of OneWeb information to get it all in one place.  This post will be updated over time.

NSF Threads for OneWeb:

OneWeb constellation

Impacts of Large Satellite Constellations on Astronomy


FCC Filings:

SAT-LOI-20160428-00041
Worldvu Satellites Limited, doing business as OneWeb ('OneWeb'), requests access to the U.S. market for OneWeb's planned low earth orbit, non-geostationary orbit satellite system.
Granted June 22, 2017.  Deployment milestones: 360 satellites by June 2023, 720 satellites by June 2026.

SAT-MOD-20180319-00022
WorldVu Satellites Limited (d/b/a OneWeb) proposes to expand its previously authorized 720-satellite LEO constellation in Ku and Ka-band to 1,980 satellites.

OneWeb's V-band constellation was approved by the FCC.  1280 satellites at 8500km, plus they can add V-band to the existing constellation.

https://www.satellitetoday.com/broadband/2020/08/26/fcc-grants-oneweb-market-access-for-2000-satellite-constellation/
FCC Filing
FCC Authorization


Bankruptcy Filing, March 2020

OneWeb Bankruptcy Case Web Site


Organizational Structure & Partnerships:



Launches

Date        Mission          Payload                             
--------------  .-------------------------- .------------------------- 
2019-02-27OneWeb Fl. 16x from Kourou on Soyuz
2020-02-06OneWeb Fl. 234x from Baikonur on Soyuz
2020-03-21OneWeb Fl. 334x from Baikonur on Soyuz
2020-12-18OneWeb Fl. 436x from Vostochniy on Soyuz
2021-03-25OneWeb Fl. 536x from Vostochniy on Soyuz
2021-04-25OneWeb Fl. 636x from Vostochniy on Soyuz
2021-05-28OneWeb Fl. 736x from Vostochniy on Soyuz
2021-07-01OneWeb Fl. 836x from Vostochniy on Soyuz
2021-08-21OneWeb Fl. 934x from Baikonur on Soyuz
2021-09-14OneWeb Fl. 1034x from Baikonur on Soyuz
2021-10-14OneWeb Fl. 1136x from Vostochniy on Soyuz
2021-12-27OneWeb Fl. 1236x from Baikonur on Soyuz
2022-02-10OneWeb Fl. 1334x from Kourou on Soyuz
2022OneWeb Fl. 140x from Baikonur (canceled)
2022-10-22OneWeb Fl. 1436x from India on GSLV Mk3
2022-12-08OneWeb Fl. 1540x from Florida on F9
2023-02-xxOneWeb Fl. 1640x from Florida on F9
2023-xx-xxOneWeb Fl. 17?40x from Florida on F9
2023-xx-xxOneWeb Fl. 18??36x from India on GSLV Mk3
2023-xx-xxOneWeb Fl. 19?x from ? on F9

Earth Stations

SES-LIC-20190930-01217 1.5M fixed ESA terminals in U.S.

SES-LIC-20190930-01237 400,000 fixed terminals in U.S.

SES-LIC-20191203-01624 South Point, HI

SES-LIC-20190422-00538 Santa Paula, CA

SES-LIC-20180727-02076 Southbury, CT

SES-LIC-20180727-02075 Clewiston, FL

SES-LIC-20180604-01082 Talkeetna, AK
« Last Edit: 02/19/2024 02:36 pm by gongora »

Offline TrevorMonty

The question is how do they get them into space and how much each to launch.

F9 is a no go based on some tweets I've read.

Given the volume of launches required current and future LVs list prices for single launches a not valid.
For example buy 20 Vega and their $30m should come down to <$20m. Not only will build cost of LV drop also there will be large reduction in profit per launch eg from $10m to $5m.










Offline Skyrocket

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The question is how do they get them into space and how much each to launch.

F9 is a no go based on some tweets I've read.

Given the volume of launches required current and future LVs list prices for single launches a not valid.
For example buy 20 Vega and their $30m should come down to <$20m. Not only will build cost of LV drop also there will be large reduction in profit per launch eg from $10m to $5m.

OneWeb has earlier announced, that Virgin Galactics LauncherOne will be used for launches. As this one has a rather small payload capacity, i think Launcher One will be used to replace failed satellites.

For the initial build-up of the constellation, larger launchers, which can orbit clusters of OneWeb satellites, will certainly be used to put up satellites up in larger numbers.

Offline AncientU

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With three solid motors plus AVUM, does Vega/AVUM have the capability to deliver a cluster of 6-8 sats?  Not sure what maneuver(s) required between dispensing the sats.
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Offline Sam Ho

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With three solid motors plus AVUM, does Vega/AVUM have the capability to deliver a cluster of 6-8 sats?  Not sure what maneuver(s) required between dispensing the sats.

6 would be a stretch.  Vega capability to 1200km polar is around 1100kg, including adapter.  AVUM itself can perform multiple burns, of course.

http://www.arianespace.com/launch-services-vega/Vega-Users-Manual_Issue-04_April-2014.pdf

Offline Kryten

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 Shouldn't we have Vega-C by 2018? Do we have firm payload figures for it?
« Last Edit: 06/23/2015 12:14 am by Kryten »

Offline TrevorMonty

The question is how do they get them into space and how much each to launch.

F9 is a no go based on some tweets I've read.

Given the volume of launches required current and future LVs list prices for single launches a not valid.
For example buy 20 Vega and their $30m should come down to <$20m. Not only will build cost of LV drop also there will be large reduction in profit per launch eg from $10m to $5m.
I was using Vega as example. The deployment is going to need multiple types of LVs .

This would be a perfect job for DARPA XS1, a rapid turn around, 1500-2500kg to LEO for $10M.  One of the competing partnerships is Virgin/scale deposits/ Northrop Grumman. Even if this partnership is not selected by DARPA, they may decide to build it anyway, especially if they are prime contender for 03B business given Virgin's involvement. This LV may not be ready for initial deployment but there is likely to be a 5-10yr replacement program.

Offline Oli

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Is there a reason not to launch 30 satellites into the same orbital plane at once?

Offline jimvela

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Does anyone know where the US manufacturing facility will be located?
Earlier WorldVu/OneWeb had hinted about discussions with Florida and Colorado and a joint venture with whomever won the spacecraft constellation- but this isn't really discussed thus far in any of the press releases...


Offline dror

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Does this announcement mean that the project is funded?
Space is hard immensely complex and high risk !

Offline nadreck

Does this announcement mean that the project is funded?

At least partly funded such that the first 10 satellites can be designed and built.
It is all well and good to quote those things that made it past your confirmation bias that other people wrote, but this is a discussion board damnit! Let us know what you think! And why!

Offline Sam Ho

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Is there a reason not to launch 30 satellites into the same orbital plane at once?

The other constellation in this weight category, OG2, uses 4-port ESPA rings to launch, and is planning to launch 11 of them on F9 on their next launch.  This ESPA allows a stack of 4 rings, so that would give a capacity of 16 per launch, if there were that many payloads.  Both F9 and AV should have enough capability to take 16 satellites up to 1200km polar orbit.

The OneWeb graphic depicts a satellite that is approximately 1m cubed, but slightly tapered, as compared to OG2, which is flatter, at 1mx1mx50cm.  This suggests a 4-port carrier structure that is narrower than an ESPA ring, but it might just be an artist's impression.

http://airbusdefenceandspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/oneweb_satellite.pdf

Offline BuzzumFrog

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More insights:

http://spacenews.com/qa-with-brian-holz-director-of-oneweb-space-systems/

Looks like the satellite production facility won't be located in Silicon Valley: "No, we won’t have a production plant in Silicon Valley."

Offline Chris Bergin

Virgin Galactic Signs Contract with OneWeb to Perform 39 Satellite Launches

LauncherOne’s Flexible Capability to Enable Global Connectivity

 

 

LONG BEACH, Calif. - June 25, 2015 - Virgin Galactic, the privately-funded space company owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi's Aabar Investments PJS, has signed a contract with OneWeb Ltd. to serve as one of its inaugural satellite launch providers.  Under the terms of the Launch Services Agreement, Virgin Galactic's LauncherOne rocket will perform 39 satellite launches for OneWeb-one of the largest commercial procurements of launches in history.  Beyond the firm contract, the agreement provides OneWeb with options for 100 additional launches.

 

OneWeb-which today announced new investment of $500M backed by world-class equity partners including Airbus Group, Bharti Enterprises, Grupo Salinas, Hughes Network Systems, (Hughes), a subsidiary of EchoStar Corp. Intelsat, Qualcomm Incorporated, The Coca-Cola Company and Virgin Group -is building a global communications system that will enable affordable broadband access around the world including in areas currently unserved or underserved by terrestrial providers.

 

Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said: "Virgin Galactic is hard at work to provide responsive launch capability to support OneWeb's historic constellation.  The scale of this order will drive our manufacturing rates to achieve unprecedented cost reductions for small satellite launch.  We are excited to support OneWeb and its partners as they harness the potential of small satellites to create new opportunities for all."

 

To achieve its goal of connecting the planet, OneWeb required a means of launching its satellites that is both affordable and flexible.  Virgin Galactic's LauncherOne will enable an unprecedented quick launch and replenishment capability for OneWeb.  LauncherOne is an affordable, flexible, and dedicated ride to orbit for small satellites, with the flight rates and performance capabilities to support OneWeb and other customers.  Virgin Galactic's LauncherOne program is being developed by a staff of 120 engineers and technicians working from a new 150,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Long Beach, California, with rocket engine testing performed at the company's facilities in Mojave, California.
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Offline MikeAtkinson

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https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/614031920196923392

Quote
Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes  9m9 minutes ago
Arianespace: We'll be launching OneWeb sats on Soyuz from Baikonur as well as from Europe's spaceport. 21-launch firm order plus options.
« Last Edit: 06/25/2015 11:42 am by MikeAtkinson »

Offline MikeAtkinson

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https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/614030631144701952

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Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes  15m15 minutes ago
Hughes Network Systems: We're investing in OneWeb and will be ground system provider.
« Last Edit: 06/25/2015 11:41 am by MikeAtkinson »

Offline MikeAtkinson

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https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/614033688406425600

Quote
Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes  4m4 minutes ago
Intelsat investing $25M in OneWeb for improved maritime/aero delivery and will let OneWeb customers use Intelsat sats at equator if needed.
« Last Edit: 06/25/2015 11:40 am by MikeAtkinson »

Offline AndrewM

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https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/614087133574361088

Quote
Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes  28m28 minutes ago
Arianespace: 1 Soyuz lifts 32 OneWeb sats. >50% of our 21 OneWeb launches 2017-2019 to be frm Baikonur. 1st 10 pilot sats frm Europe's port.

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/614087133574361088

Quote
Arianespace CEO: OneWeb 21-launch Soyuz deal is firm. We'll now order 20+ additional Soyuz rockets from Russia's Roscosmos agency by Sept.

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/614087490757107713

Quote
Arianespace CEO: We'll sign separate contract soon w/ OneWeb to design/build adaptor to carry/deploy the sats for Soyuz launches.

Offline Stan Black

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Offline Kryten

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