In the statement, the company does not say how many satellites SpaceX will launch or how many will take. Currently, OneWeb has 428 satellites in orbit, which is 66% of the fleet and provides Internet capabilities to users on the ground, the company said.
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“Thanks to SpaceX for their support, which reflects our common vision for the infinite possibilities of the universe,” OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson said in a statement. increase. “With these launch plans in place, we have completed the construction of a complete fleet of satellites and are on track to provide robust, fast and secure connections around the world.”
After Britain joined the sanctions imposed on Ukraine’s invasion, Russia will not follow the list of demands such as the UK government selling substantial shares of the company or the inability to satellite on OneWeb. Used for military purposes, which stated that it would not fly satellites. If these conditions were not met, Russia pulled the rocket and left OneWeb to find another vehicle.
It took less than two weeks. And Russia’s decision to refuse to launch the satellite probably had unintended consequences — handing SpaceX another launch contract and another potentially substantive deal.
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SpaceX has also taken over the launch of US astronauts to the International Space Station. This is a work that Russia has done over the years. After the Space Shuttle retired in 2011, NASA had no choice but to rely on Russia to bring astronauts to the station. And those trips weren’t cheap: Russia charged as much as $ 85 million in seats.
Founder and CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk is sparring Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space agency, said U.S. companies would no longer be able to provide the engines needed to power their vehicles and would need to use “brooms” to get them into orbit. I did.
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Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to build its own Starlink satellite constellation. SpaceX officials said Monday that the company has 250,000 subscribers and has about 2,000 satellites in orbit. He said the company’s manufacturing facility in Redmond, Washington, manufactures about eight satellites a day.
During the recent launch of Starlink, SpaceX’s online broadcast commentator said: “It’s time to fly the American broom and hear the sound of freedom.”
Starlink also has a growing role in Ukraine, serving the national government and military. Ukrainian Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said last week that the country is using Starlink terminals “in thousands of territories” and is “new shipments.” [are] Arrives every other day. “