The general assembly of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket with OneWeb satellites has been completed – everything is ready for launching
We recently wrote that Roskosmos has completed the assembly of the head of the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with the OneWeb satellites array. At Vostochny, preparations continue for the only launch this year, during which Soyuz-2.1b with the Fregat upper stage will put 36 named spacecraft into orbit. Now a new stage has been completed and the corresponding photos have been published.
Today, December 13, 2020, in the assembly and test building of the Vostochny cosmodrome, a joint crew of specialists from Roscosmos subsidiaries have already completed the general assembly of the Soyuz-2.1b space rocket. According to the press service of the state corporation, the warhead (OneWeb spacecraft under the fairing) and the third stage with the “package” (including the first and second stages) of the launch vehicle were docked in accordance with the work schedule.
The rocket is placed on a transport and installation unit and is ready for removal to the launch complex, which is scheduled for December 15, 2020. The launch itself is currently scheduled for December 18. The satellites to be launched will join the OneWeb grouping, which so far is represented by 74 vehicles launched into low-earth orbit in three previous successful missions.
Recall that there was a long hiatus after that, caused by the fact that OneWeb filed for bankruptcy in March. But it is now owned by a consortium of the UK government and India’s Bharti Global has received additional funding, and looks set to complete a project to create a global high-speed satellite Internet access network. With the help of Roskosmos, a constellation of 650 vehicles operating in the Ka and Ku bands of the radio frequency spectrum will be created.
The upcoming launch will be the first fully commercial spacecraft launch from the Russian Vostochny cosmodrome. It will also mark the first launch for OneWeb by France’s Arianespace from this launch site.
