The London-based satellite company OneWeb will resume launches of its spacecraft using rockets operated by its American competitor, SpaceX
Both firms are building constellations in the sky to deliver broadband internet connections.
But while SpaceX can send up its Starlink system using its own rockets, OneWeb was left looking for rides when the Ukraine war forced it to abandon the use of Russian Soyuz vehicles.
OneWeb has now contracted SpaceX.
It’s hoped the first of a series of launches can take place before the end of the year.
The terms of the agreement with SpaceX have not been disclosed.
OneWeb is part-owned by the British government.
Although SpaceX and OneWeb are both pursuing the same goal of broadband internet from the sky, they are targeting in the first instance somewhat different sectors.
Whereas SpaceX will sell connection terminals direct to the consumer, OneWeb is focused instead on selling its connections to telcos. These partners would then offer the OneWeb system to customers as part of their package of internet solutions.
OneWeb was launching 34-36 satellites at a time on the Soyuz rocket. The spacecraft were held at the top of the vehicle to be deployed in space by a structure called a dispenser. This hardware will need to be adapted to work on the Falcon.
OneWeb continues to turn out 1-2 satellites a day at its factory in Florida. Source: BBC
