Eutelsat OneWeb: Constellation - General Thread

[Rondaz]

The gates opened exactly as scheduled!

At 02:30 UTC, the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with #OneWeb spacecraft was rolled out from the assembly and testing facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427097941785911297

[Rondaz]

The Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat / OneWeb space rocket was delivered to the launch complex of site No. 31 of the Baikonur cosmodrome. Now Roscosmos specialists are starting operations to verticalize it.

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427107645203304448

[Rondaz]

The Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat / @OneWeb space rocket was delivered to the Site 31 launch complex of the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Now Roscosmos specialists are starting its verticalization.

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427107786358501377

[Rondaz]

The next stage of the removal

The Soyuz-2.1b rocket with the #OneWeb spacecraft is installed on the launch pad of site No. 31. Ahead is the convergence of service farms.

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427118749115719683

[Rondaz]

Next stage of rollout

The Soyuz-2.1b rocket with the @OneWeb spacecraft is installed on the Site 31 launch pad. Now the service structures are to roll up.

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427118776823201794

[ncb1397]

Huh, this is the third launch since Starlink's last launch (if you ignore 3 satellites on a rideshare). OneWeb is catching up.

[Rondaz]

Rocket "Soyuz-2.1b" with 34 OneWeb devices installed at Baikonur

08/16/2021 07:33

On Monday, August 16, 2021, the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with the Fregat upper stage and 34 spacecraft of the OneWeb satellite company was removed from the assembly and test building . At present, a space rocket has been installed at launch pad No. 31 of the Baikonur cosmodrome. Its launch is scheduled for Friday, August 20, at 01:23 Moscow time.

Pre-launch work is being carried out within the framework of the contracts between Glavkosmos (a subsidiary of Roscosmos State Corporation) with the European launch services provider Arianespace (operator of the OneWeb spacecraft launch using the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle), and Starsem. These works are carried out by a joint calculation of representatives of foreign customers and enterprises of Roscosmos: RCC "Progress", NPO Lavochkina, TsENKI and Glavkosmos.

Currently, specialists at the cosmodrome are performing technological operations according to the program of the first launch day. Pre-launch tests of the systems and assemblies of the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle are being carried out, the interaction of onboard equipment and ground equipment is being checked.

Now the constellation of satellites OneWeb in low Earth orbit has 254 spacecraft, it is planned to launch hundreds of others. The upcoming launch should bring the number of OneWeb devices in low-earth orbit to 288. Low-earth orbit spacecraft OneWeb are designed to provide terrestrial consumers with high-speed Internet.

***

The Soyuz-2 launch vehicle was developed on the basis of the Soyuz-U serial rocket. The lead developer is the Progress Rocket and Space Center (Samara, part of Roscosmos). Upgraded propulsion systems and modern control and measurement systems are used on launch vehicles of the Soyuz-2 family, which improves technical and operational characteristics. Structurally "Soyuz-2", like all missiles of the "Soyuz" family, is made according to the scheme of longitudinal-transverse division of rocket stages. In combination with the Fregat upper stage, it is intended for launching spacecraft into low-earth orbits of various heights and inclinations, including geo-transfer and geostationary orbits, as well as departure trajectories.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/32177/

[Rondaz]

Even more beautiful photos of today's launch at Baikonur: https: // roscosmos.ru/32177/ Now the cosmodrome is actively preparing for the launch on August 20 of the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with spacecraft #OneWeb.

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427170887019728901

[Rondaz]

After rolling up the service structures, Roscosmos specialists began working in accordance with the L-4 schedule.

Prelaunch tests of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket systems and assemblies are now carried out, as well as the interaction of onboard and ground equipment is checked.

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427146767821426691

[Rondaz]

At Baikonur, work is being carried out according to the plan of the second launch day

08/17/2021 09:20

On Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at the Baikonur cosmodrome, the calculations of the subsidiaries of the State Corporation Roscosmos began work according to the schedule of the second launch day within the framework of the OneWeb mission No. 35. In the morning, the heads of enterprises-manufacturers of space technology, representatives of the management of the State Corporation Roscosmos are here , companies "Glavkosmos" and OneWeb.

The day before, the Soyuz-2.1b space rocket was transported to the launch complex of site No. 31 of the cosmodrome. The specialists of the Roscosmos enterprises carried out the work on the first launch day, no comments were revealed during the work. Today, the active phase of preparation for the launch, which is scheduled for August 20, continues.

At the Vostok launch complex, it is planned to carry out a test set for the launch readiness of the upper stage, as well as testing the systems of the launch vehicle, the upper stage, spacecraft and ground equipment. In the afternoon, general tests will be held, during which the launch and flight of the launch vehicle will be simulated, then the telemetry information will be analyzed.

***

Upper stage "Fregat" produced by the Scientific and Production Association named after S.А. Lavochkin (part of the State Corporation "Roscosmos") ensures the effective implementation of all tasks to launch one or more spacecraft into working orbits or trajectories departing from the Earth. The entire process of launching is carried out autonomously, without interference from the Earth. The highest reliability, the possibility of launching from four cosmodromes and, practically, the ideal launching accuracy, give the upper stage an undeniable competitive advantage over world analogues.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/32212/

[Rondaz]

Today at Baikonur our specialists started work according to the schedule of the second launch day within the framework of the #OneWeb mission # 35:

control set of the launch readiness of the upper stage;
testing of rocket systems, upper stage, spacecraft;
general tests.

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427518876129144852

[high road]

Huh, this is the third launch since Starlink's last launch (if you ignore 3 satellites on a rideshare). OneWeb is catching up.

Oneweb needs far less launches than Starlink. They 'catch up' every time they launch.

[hkultala]

Huh, this is the third launch since Starlink's last launch (if you ignore 3 satellites on a rideshare). OneWeb is catching up.

Oneweb needs far less launches than Starlink. They 'catch up' every time they launch.

How you define "need" ?

SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites in one launch.
Roscosmos launches 34-36 Oneweb satellites in one launch.

Starlink does not "need" much more satellites than Oneweb. it will have more satellites to have greater total bandwidth.

[edzieba]

Huh, this is the third launch since Starlink's last launch (if you ignore 3 satellites on a rideshare). OneWeb is catching up.

Oneweb needs far less launches than Starlink. They 'catch up' every time they launch.

How you define "need" ?

SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites in one launch.
Roscosmos launches 34-36 Oneweb satellites in one launch.

Starlink does not "need" much more satellites than Oneweb. it will have more satellites to have greater total bandwidth.

SpaceX's target constellation is ~12,000 satellites, so every launch lifts ~0.5% of the constellation.
OneWeb's target constellation size is ~7,000 satellites, so each launch lifts ~0.51% of the constellation.

In terms of the initial (phase 1) constellation that must be completed to establish primary spectrum rights under the FAAs terms:
SpaceX's initial constellation is ~4400 satellites, so every launch lifts ~1.4% of the constellation.
OneWeb's initial constellation is ~650 satellites, so ever launch lifts ~5.5% of the constellation.

Oneweb are not 'gaining' all that much in terms of total constellation buildout, but they are in terms of the initial buildout to secure spectrum primacy rights, nearly 4x faster per launch. Of course, Starlink may end up 'just' launching more than 4x more often than OneWeb, making that difference moot.

[gongora]

OneWeb's current target constellation size is the ~650 number, not 7000.  Starlink's current target constellation size is ~4400 (I doubt the V-band sats ever get deployed).  Both will try for larger second generation constellations, but those aren't approved yet.

[Rondaz]

300! Yesterday, we hit a major milestone—we completed our 300th satellite and we’re closing in on the halfway point! Congrats to the team for this amazing achievement!

https://twitter.com/OneWebSatellit1/status/1427648926144925709

[Rondaz]

At Baikonur - a reserve day in preparation for launch

08/18/2021 09:30

At the Baikonur cosmodrome, active preparations continue for the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the Fregat upper stage and 34 OneWeb spacecraft. Today, August 18, 2021, specialists from subsidiaries of the State Corporation Roscosmos have started performing operations on the third, reserve day.

On the eve, work was carried out according to the schedule of the second launch day, which successfully ended with general tests - checking the functioning of the launch complex systems with simulating the separation of the launch vehicle, its flight to the separation of the orbital block in the target orbit. The main content of the work today and the first half of the day on August 19 is the temperature control of the "naphthyl" product in an 11G133 automobile refueling unit.

On Thursday evening, a meeting of the State Commission will take place, following which decisions will be made on fueling the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket and launching it at the appointed time. The launch of the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the Fregat upper stage and a batch of 34 OneWeb spacecraft is scheduled for August 20, 2021 at 01:23:17 Moscow time.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/32215/

[Rondaz]

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome, active prelaunch preparations continue of the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with 34 @OneWeb spacecraft.

On August 18, 2021, specialists from Roscosmos subsidiaries have started operations on the margin day:

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427913945554239488

[Rondaz]

At the Baikonur cosmodrome, preparations continue for the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with 34 #OneWeb spacecraft

Today, Roskosmos specialists have started operations on the third, reserve day:

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1427888165352837120

[Rondaz]

Our 9th OneWeb Launch mission patch

This mission patch is dedicated to our incredible partners and suppliers across the globe who have been key in our progress towards global connectivity. Thank you to everyone making our constellation possible!

https://twitter.com/OneWeb/status/1427948401807794176