Photo credit: pizabay
All 36 British OneWeb satellites, launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome on a Soyuz-2.1b rocket, have been successfully sent to orbits using the Fregat upper stage, TASS reports.
The Soyuz-2.1b rocket was launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome at 01:14 Moscow time. The launch of the vehicles by the upper stage took about 4 hours. The satellites were separated in several stages.
The emblem of this launch of OneWeb satellites depicts Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in honor of the 60th anniversary of his space flight, which was celebrated around the world on April 12. This is the 2nd launch from Vostochny in 2021 and the 3rd launch of OneWeb vehicles from this cosmodrome.
The first 6 OneWeb satellites went into orbit from the Kuru cosmodrome on a Soyuz-ST rocket on February 28, 2019. 34 spacecraft were launched from Baikonur on February 7, 2020, and the same number on March 21 of the same year. For the 1st time, OneWeb satellites were launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome in December 2020. 36 vehicles were withdrawn. Another launch took place on March 25, 2021 from the Vostochny cosmodrome.
The updated agreement between OneWeb and Arianespace (the French company that operates the launches) envisages the launch of 16 Russian Soyuz missiles from the Kuru, Vostochny and Baikonur cosmodromes in 2020-2022. Each launch will allow 34 to 36 vehicles to be launched into orbit.
Russkiy Mir
