OneWeb 1, ..., 900

OneWeb [OneWeb]

OneWeb, formerly known as WorldVu, is a planned satellite constellation consisting of 648 microsatellites to provide world wide internet access for individual consumers and airlines.

The current design of the OneWeb satellite network consists of 648 micro satellites of about 125 kg operating in 1200 km orbits. Each satellite is capable of delivering at least 8 gigabits per second of throughput to provide Internet access to homes and mobile platforms using its high throughput Ku-band payload.

OneWeb will order about 900 satellites, at a price targeted below USD 500000 per satellite. Five companies, Airbus Defence and Space, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, OHB AG, SSL and Thales Alenia Space, have submitted bids. Airbus was selected as the manufacturer in June 2015. The satellites will have a design life of seven years or more.

The satellites were originally planned to feature inter-satellite links, but in July 2018, OneWeb decided not to implement these for regulatory reasons and replace them with more than 40 gateways around the world, each capable of connecting to satellites up to 4000 kilometers away.

Virgin is an investor to the project, which will provide launch services on their planned LauncherOne rocket. Another investor is Qualcomm Inc.

Airbus Defence and Space was selected to build the ~900 satellites. The first ten will be built at Toulouse, France, while the remainder will be built at a dedicated factory in the USA. In January 2016, Airbus Defence and Space and OneWeb created the 50/50 joint venture OneWeb Satelites to build the satellites. RUAG Switzerland will build the mechanical skeletal structures of the satellites.

In December 2018 it was announced, that the initial constellation will be reduced by 33% to 600 satellites due to reportedly better-than-expected ground performance of the demo satellites. The first launch of six prototypes is now planned for February 2019. The remaining four prototypes are being used as ground spares in case of a launch failure.

OneWeb still hasn’t decided if they will build 900 first-generation satellites, as intially planned in 2016, or if they will halt production at 648 before starting a second generation.

In March 2020, OneWeb filed for bankrupcy. OneWeb's assets were auctioned in July 2020. A consortium consisting of the Indian telecom Bharti Global, and the UK government won the auction.

The OneWeb satellites use electric propulsion. Initially the Russian Fakel SPT-50 thrusters were used. Due to Ukraine war sanctions in 2022, later satellites use Busek BHT-350 Hall effect thrusters.

OneWeb satellites are launched into a near polar orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers before raising themselves on their onboard electric propulsion to their operational orbit of 1200 km. In June 2016, OneWeb signed a contract with Arianespace for 21 Soyuz Fregat rockets will launch clusters of 36 or 34 of these satellites from Kourou, Baikonur and Vostochny. There are five more options for Soyuz launches. The first launch of six (originally ten were planned), was conducted in early 2019, directly into the 1200 km orbit. Later on each launch 34 or 36 satellites were carried.

The Arianespace contract also included three options for Ariane-62 launches. One of these was later converted to a launch contract for 30 satellites on the maiden Ariane-62 flight. Currently it is unclear, if any 1st generation OneWeb satellites will be launched on this vehicle.

Another contract with Virgin Galactic was for 39 launches on LauncherOne air launched rockets, with options for 100 more launches. This contract was reduced in 2018 to only four launches.

In March 2017 an agreement for five launches of the New Glenn rocket was made. Currently it is unclear, if any 1st generation OneWeb satellites will be launched on this vehicle.

Also due to the Ukraine war in 2022, launches on Soyuz vehicles have become impossible. These launches were replaced by two LVM3 (2) and three Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) launches.

Note: The satellites are designated with individual non-consecutive numbers. Due to this and the large number of satellite, on this website the satellites will be designated by a prefix flight number and a number in catalog order to keep the lists manageable. Individual proper names are given in parentheses.