North American aerospace company SpaceX is preparing to launch its Falcon 9 rocket with 16 satellites from satellite communications company OneWeb into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will also carry the Iridium satellite. This will be OneWeb’s 19th launch ever as the company moves towards global coverage.
This launch will add 15 more satellites to OneWeb’s LEO satellite fleet, increasing network resiliency and redundancy. This release also includes an innovative demonstration satellite called JoySat.
JoySat includes several new technologies, including the demonstration of a digital regenerative payload and multi-beam electronically phased array antennas. The payload, developed through the Sunrise Partnership programme, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA), will test an innovative beam-hopping capability that will allow satellites to switch between different locations on Earth. Adjust the strength of communication signals based on the needs or demands of the client.
OneWeb is a wholesale connectivity provider that provides high-performance, low-latency network services to consumer-facing distribution partners such as Internet and telecommunications service providers. OneWeb’s partners integrate the LEO service into their offerings to offer solutions such as community Wi-Fi, cellular backhaul, corporate connectivity, and high-speed connectivity for maritime and aviation customers.
OneWeb’s solutions are now active in rural and remote underserved and underserved communities in the US, UK and Canada, with more solutions expected to come online in the near term.
