The Soyuz-2.1 b rocket launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome at 05: 47 Moscow time. The launch of the devices by the upper stage took almost 4 hours
MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. All 36 British OneWeb satellites launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome on a Soyuz-2.1 b rocket have been successfully launched into their calculated orbits using the Fregat upper stage. This was reported to TASS by the Director General of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin on Thursday.
"The last ones separated. In total, 36 were withdrawn, " Rogozin said.
According to the head of Roscosmos, all the parameters of the upper stage "Fregat" were normal, the devices are in the calculated orbits.
The Soyuz-2.1 b rocket launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome at 05: 47 Moscow time. The launch of the devices by the upper stage took almost 4 hours. The satellites were separated in several stages. This is the second launch of OneWeb spacecraft from Vostochny, and it is also the second fully commercial launch from this cosmodrome.
The first six OneWeb satellites went into orbit from the Kourou cosmodrome on a Soyuz-ST rocket on February 28, 2019. From Baikonur on February 7, 2020, 34 spacecraft were launched into space, and on March 21-the same number. For the first time, OneWeb satellites were launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome in December 2020. 36 vehicles were withdrawn. In total, the company intends to deploy about 600 satellites in low-Earth orbit.
OneWeb's updated agreement with Arianespace calls for the launch of 16 Russian Soyuz rockets from the Kourou, Vostochny and Baikonur cosmodromes in 2020-2022. Each launch will allow you to put 34-36 vehicles into orbit.