SpaceX Sends 40 OneWeb Satellites into Orbit to Expand Global Coverage

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 on March 9th, carrying a third batch of 40 OneWeb satellites into the Earth's orbit.

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This will help the UK-based OneWeb further expand its broadband relay stations' constellation to 582 operational units.

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Another 36 OneWeb satellites are set for launch later this month which will be carried by an Indian GSLV rocket.

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The company aims to possess a global coverage, with a final SpaceX flight adding the fleet to almost 650 satellites.

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Each satellite was successfully detached from the rocket in low Earth orbit, and OneWeb has made contact with them.

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The stage 1 booster previously used for 12 missions returned to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's nearby Landing Zone 1.

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The solar-powered satellites will now use xenon ion thrusters to reach their operational altitude of about 745 miles.

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OneWeb is focusing more on government/commercial maritime, aviation, and land-based mobility markets with its limited number of higher-altitude satellites.

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OneWeb has been authorized to deploy only a total of 648 satellites for this constellation, and SpaceX will also launch an undefined number of spare OneWeb satellites on a Falcon 9 shared with other operators by late summer.

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