An Arianespace Soyuz rocket released lots of new internet satellites into orbit Monday (Dec. 27) to increase a growing megaconstellation by company OneWeb.The Russian-built Soyuz rocket launched 36 OneWeb satellites from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 8:10 a.m. EST (1310 GMT). The flight comes simply two days after an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket launched NASAs James Webb Space Telescope into area on Christmas from Kourou, French Guiana and just ahead of the New Year, liquidating Arianespaces launch manifest for 2021. Its “an unique time of the year for a really special flight,” Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël stated by means of a video message during a launch webcast. The launch was Arianespaces 15th of 2021 and the last of the year, he added. Video: Watch the Soyuz rockets OneWeb 12 objective launch!In pictures: OneWeb launches brand-new worldwide satellite internet constellationAn Arianespace Soyuz rocket releases 36 OneWeb internet satellites into orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 27, 2021. (Image credit: OneWeb) Mondays launch marked the 8th launch of the year for OneWeb, which now has 394 of its web satellites in orbit. If all goes well, the 36 brand-new satellites will be released in a preliminary orbit 280 miles (450 kilometers) above Earth about 3 hours, 45 minutes after liftoff. Theyll then head off to a last orbit more than 621miles (1,000 km) above Earth.The London-based OneWeb is developing a constellation of 648 satellites to offer high-speed internet access to customers all over the world, under-connected and particularly remote places. This year, the company reached the 60% mark of their constellation in space and signed a series of distribution contracts with partners in Australia, Canada and Europe for their service network.” The need for connection is not simply at a psychological level, it is practically visceral,” OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson informed Via Satellite in an interview this month. “We think we have this incredible chance to level up this digital divide and help close it.” OneWeb is not the only business competing for the satellite internet consumers. SpaceX is developing a megaconstellation of its own called Starlink and has actually released 1,944 satellites since 2019. That constellation is anticipated to number a minimum of 4,400 satellites in its preliminary setup. Amazon is likewise developing its own web satellite constellation called Kuiper, but has yet to release any satellites.Email Tariq Malik at [email protected] or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram..
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket released lots of brand-new internet satellites into orbit Monday (Dec. 27) to increase a growing megaconstellation by service provider OneWeb.The Russian-built Soyuz rocket launched 36 OneWeb satellites from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 8:10 a.m. EST (1310 GMT). Video: Watch the Soyuz rockets OneWeb 12 objective launch!In photos: OneWeb launches brand-new worldwide satellite web constellationAn Arianespace Soyuz rocket launches 36 OneWeb internet satellites into orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 27, 2021. (Image credit: OneWeb) Mondays launch marked the eighth launch of the year for OneWeb, which now has 394 of its internet satellites in orbit.