MOSCOW: A Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East on Friday carrying 36 UK telecommunications and internet satellites, the Roscosmos area company mentioned.
The launch was the first and just one to happen from the cosmodrome this 12 months, Roscosmos informed AFP.
The rocket took off at 1226 GMT, Roscosmos mentioned, carrying satellites made by the British-based firm OneWeb.
Initially deliberate for April, the launch was delayed after OneWeb collapsed and was compelled to declare chapter.
Final month, the UK authorities and Indian telecommunications large Bharti took management of the corporate, investing $500 million a chunk.
The London-headquartered firm is working to finish the development of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites offering enhanced broadband and different companies to nations world wide.
OneWeb’s first six satellites had been launched by a Russian-made Soyuz rocket from the space centre in Kourou in French Guiana in February 2019.
The corporate launched 34 extra in February this 12 months from the Baikanour launch website in Kazakhstan, then one other 34 in March.
OneWeb plans for its international industrial web service to be operational by 2022, supported by some 650 satellites.
“As we speak’s launch would be the first absolutely industrial spacecraft launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome,” Roscosmos mentioned.
“It’ll even be the primary launch operated by the European launch companies supplier Arianespace for the corporate OneWeb from the primary Russian civilian spaceport.”
The Vostochny launch website is among the nation’s most necessary area initiatives, designed to cut back reliance on the Baikonur area centre Russia at present rents from Kazakhstan.
Its development has for years been tainted by a number of controversies together with corruption, and the undertaking has been constantly delayed.
The launch was the first and just one to happen from the cosmodrome this 12 months, Roscosmos informed AFP.
The rocket took off at 1226 GMT, Roscosmos mentioned, carrying satellites made by the British-based firm OneWeb.
Initially deliberate for April, the launch was delayed after OneWeb collapsed and was compelled to declare chapter.
Final month, the UK authorities and Indian telecommunications large Bharti took management of the corporate, investing $500 million a chunk.
The London-headquartered firm is working to finish the development of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites offering enhanced broadband and different companies to nations world wide.
OneWeb’s first six satellites had been launched by a Russian-made Soyuz rocket from the space centre in Kourou in French Guiana in February 2019.
The corporate launched 34 extra in February this 12 months from the Baikanour launch website in Kazakhstan, then one other 34 in March.
OneWeb plans for its international industrial web service to be operational by 2022, supported by some 650 satellites.
“As we speak’s launch would be the first absolutely industrial spacecraft launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome,” Roscosmos mentioned.
“It’ll even be the primary launch operated by the European launch companies supplier Arianespace for the corporate OneWeb from the primary Russian civilian spaceport.”
The Vostochny launch website is among the nation’s most necessary area initiatives, designed to cut back reliance on the Baikonur area centre Russia at present rents from Kazakhstan.
Its development has for years been tainted by a number of controversies together with corruption, and the undertaking has been constantly delayed.