Eutelsat OneWeb: Constellation - General Thread

[wannamoonbase]

Why is Falcon the first assumption?

Vindication for all of us saying Falcon could step in to launch OneWeb. C:

There is still the followons.  This just the immediate ones.

I expect and hope that OneWeb launches on other launch vehicles. The other reusable launchers like New Glenn and Neutron will struggle to find enough payloads to launch without megaconstellations.

True, but those vehicles need to fly first before they book too many launches.  Neutron will be exciting, New Glenn is shocking in it's slowness to initial flight.

[Zed_Noir]

Why is Falcon the first assumption?

Vindication for all of us saying Falcon could step in to launch OneWeb. C:

There is still the followons.  This just the immediate ones.

SpaceX is still a cheaper launch option with more launch opportunities for the follow on OneWeb comsats.

Heck, OneWeb could just simply trucked their comsats from their Florida factory to the SpaceX facilities. Save cash from having to air-freighting them half way around the world. Especially if SpaceX can launch them from Florida.

[DreamyPickle]

Why is Falcon the first assumption?

Vindication for all of us saying Falcon could step in to launch OneWeb. C:

There is still the followons.  This just the immediate ones.

Yes. Without SpaceX they would have been forced to delay starting services and would have lost a lot of revenue.

One the constellation is operational this no longer applies and future expansion can wait for future launches.

[Comga]

Why is Falcon the first assumption?

Vindication for all of us saying Falcon could step in to launch OneWeb. C:

There is still the followons.  This just the immediate ones.

Trivially true
But Jim’s post really isn’t saying anything

The next MEV will be launched by SpaceX
Beyond that there are alternatives.
The next OneWeb stack will be launched by SpaceX.
Beyond that there are alternatives, but even fewer.
However, I would bet that several more will go to SpaceX.
It’s a simple matter of capacity and flexibility.
SpaceX isn’t THE answer but for many, it’s a pretty good answer.


edit: typo

[Rondaz]

OneWeb has entered into an agreement with SpaceX to launch satellites.

The British company OneWeb signed an agreement to launch satellites with the American SpaceX.

03/21/2022 04:17 PM (updated: 03/21/2022 04:30 PM)

LONDON, March 21 - RIA Novosti. The British company OneWeb has entered into an agreement to launch satellites with the American SpaceX, the first launch is expected at the end of the year, OneWeb said.

OneWeb announced today that the company and SpaceX have entered into an agreement that will allow OneWeb to resume satellite launches. The first launch from SpaceX is expected in 2022 and will complement OneWeb's total orbital constellation, which currently has 428 satellites, or 66% of the fleet. The OneWeb network will provide high-speed, low-latency global connectivity.

The company does not disclose the terms of the agreement with SpaceX, citing confidentiality.

Earlier , Russia refused to launch OneWeb satellites after the British government did not want to leave the company's directors, and the satellite company itself did not give guarantees that the satellites would not be used for military purposes. The CEO of the Russian state corporation , Dmitry Rogozin , said that OneWeb would go bankrupt after Roscosmos refused to provide rockets.

https://ria.ru/20220321/spacex-1779298579.html

[Comga]

For background Gunther’s Space Page listed OneWeb launches after Soyuz on

LauncherOne or Ariane-62 or New Glenn

SpaceX wasn’t even on his list.


What is the estimated mass of a OneWeb stack?
36x150kg? + ?? =
Is it reasonable to assume the use of the Ruag dispenser with an adapter to the Falcon 9?

[abaddon]

For background Gunther’s Space Page listed OneWeb launches after Soyuz on

LauncherOne or Ariane-62 or New Glenn

SpaceX wasn’t even on his list.

Old info, LauncherOne was signed to a big deal by OneWeb, but that fell apart in a mass of litigation.  I'm speculating, but given the history Greg Wyler being involved at the time would never have allowed SpaceX to launch OneWeb, and I suspect the apathy for that outcome might have been mutual.  With him out of the picture following the bankruptcy, it's a different story...

It seems likely F9 will complete most of the initial constellation, with possibly some going to PSLV.  The 1st gen constellation was supposed to be completed in August, so they don't really have time to wait for the plethora of new launchers that will be starting to roll out soon.

[abaddon]

One the constellation is operational this no longer applies and future expansion can wait for future launches.

Yes and no, there are e.g. ITU filings that require minimum completion dates to be met to retain granted spectrum rights.  But the window for those is enough later it seems likely launch capacity to get these 2nd gen constellations going isn't a huge risk.  I'm assuming many of these proposed constellations won't happen anyway.

[russianhalo117]

For background Gunther’s Space Page listed OneWeb launches after Soyuz on

LauncherOne or Ariane-62 or New Glenn

SpaceX wasn’t even on his list.


What is the estimated mass of a OneWeb stack?
36x150kg? + ?? =
Is it reasonable to assume the use of the Ruag dispenser with an adapter to the Falcon 9?

His pages are not always up to date. Backup options are typically an MoU which may or may not be announced publicly. The agreement upgrades this MoU to a binding contract

[jongoff]

It seems likely F9 will complete most of the initial constellation, with possibly some going to PSLV.  The 1st gen constellation was supposed to be completed in August, so they don't really have time to wait for the plethora of new launchers that will be starting to roll out soon.

Given how few launches they have left, and the fact that splitting between multiple launches might require different adapters to be designed/analyzed, my guess is they'll just finish Gen 1 on Falcon 9. Back when we discussed this a few weeks back, it was pretty clear that SpaceX is the only option that has spare capacity at the moment. There should be many new launchers coming online this year, or early next year, but at this point OneWeb doesn't have a lot of options.

On the plus side, this means I'll get to see DogTags go up on OneWeb satellites on a Falcon 9. :-)

~Jon

[matthewkantar]

OneWeb will save some money not ferrying personnel and hardware all over the planet. The launches may even be cheaper, though not comforting since Russia has pocketed whatever funds they have been paid.

Are there any guess as to how many sats will be on each launch? Is it most likely they will use the same 36 sat dispenser to save time?

[Zed_Noir]

Anyone think that OneWeb will just put their dispenser from the Soyuz unchanged on the Falcon 9?

Maybe OneWeb could stacked a pair of dispensers together to launch 68 satcoms in one launch. 8 in 8 tiers with 4 on top. 

[Zed_Noir]

Eric Berger have an article about OneWeb SpaceX lanch deal on Ars Technica.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/03/oneweb-turns-to-a-competitor-spacex-to-complete-its-constellation/

[Star One]

One Web has moved the launch of at least some of its satellites to Space X after Soyuz became unavailable.

https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/spacex-oneweb-satellite-launch-elon-musk-b2040467.html

[Robotbeat]

OneWeb will save some money not ferrying personnel and hardware all over the planet. The launches may even be cheaper, though not comforting since Russia has pocketed whatever funds they have been paid.

Are there any guess as to how many sats will be on each launch? Is it most likely they will use the same 36 sat dispenser to save time?

There is SOME possibility that they could sue Russia/Roscosmos/etc and get some of the money back from frozen assets.

[Robotbeat]

It seems likely F9 will complete most of the initial constellation, with possibly some going to PSLV.  The 1st gen constellation was supposed to be completed in August, so they don't really have time to wait for the plethora of new launchers that will be starting to roll out soon.

Given how few launches they have left, and the fact that splitting between multiple launches might require different adapters to be designed/analyzed, my guess is they'll just finish Gen 1 on Falcon 9. Back when we discussed this a few weeks back, it was pretty clear that SpaceX is the only option that has spare capacity at the moment. There should be many new launchers coming online this year, or early next year, but at this point OneWeb doesn't have a lot of options.

On the plus side, this means I'll get to see DogTags go up on OneWeb satellites on a Falcon 9. :-)

~Jon

This is ultimately and ironically good news for Neutron etc. OneWeb (the only other currently partially launched megaconstellation besides Starlink, this a substantial source for future cost-sensitive launch demand) stays alive and the business argument for not being reliant on geopolitically risky launch providers gets even stronger.

[Robotbeat]

Reusability or perish.

[Redclaws]

Why is Falcon the first assumption?

Vindication for all of us saying Falcon could step in to launch OneWeb. C:

There is still the followons.  This just the immediate ones.

And your point is?  No one has been suggesting SpaceX is the only vehicle provider they'll ever use for the rest of time, just that there seemed to be an *extremely strong case* for ending up on F9 in the near term.

[Comga]

Eric Berger have an article about OneWeb SpaceX lanch deal on Ars Technica.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/03/oneweb-turns-to-a-competitor-spacex-to-complete-its-constellation/

Questionable quote from the article:

Now, OneWeb is in a position to directly support a competitor by subsidizing the costs of its launch operations.

Buying a low cost product is not exactly “subsidizing”.
Pointed quote from the article:

This all comes 20 years after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk visited Russia in order to purchase a repurposed ICBM to launch the "Mars Oasis" project. Russia's rejection of Musk was one of the spurs that led to his founding of SpaceX. Now, two decades later, Musk is the one selling rockets to the rest of the world.

(and giving robust satellite communications to the Ukrainians.)

“rejection” was a generous euphemism for how the Russians treated Musk.
I trust Shotwell’s discussions with OneWeb were professional and free of even passive antagonism.

[Rondaz]

We’re pleased to announce that we’re partnering with @SpeedcastGlobal, a leading communications and IT services provider, integrating our Low Earth Orbit satellite connectivity into their Unified Global Platform.

https://twitter.com/OneWeb/status/1505950230298206211