Eutelsat's OneWeb renewal moves toward launch as first new satellites ship

Airbus Defence and Space has completed the first 32 new OneWeb satellites at its Toulouse, France facility; they are preparing to be shipped for an upcoming SpaceX launch, Eutelsat announced on 2 October (Eutelsat).

It is a major milestone in Eutelsat’s programme to renew and enhance the OneWeb LEO constellation (Eutelsat). The 32 craft open a planned programme of 669 new OneWeb satellites that will replace ageing craft, assure service continuity and enhance network capability, delivering secure, resilient LEO connectivity to businesses, governments and institutions worldwide (Eutelsat).

“This is an exciting moment for Eutelsat as our first new OneWeb satellites leave the production line and head towards launch,” said chief executive Jean-François Fallacher. “For our customers, it shows our commitment to keep delivering the connectivity they rely on as we renew the network. For Europe, it demonstrates our ability to build and sustain a global LEO capability.” (Eutelsat)

Airbus Defence and Space’s Alain Fauré, head of space systems, called it a symbol of “industrial relocalisation” and proof of “high volume, high cadence satellite delivery capability” (Eutelsat).

Renewal is urgent: OneWeb flies 654 first-generation satellites, the oldest from 2019 and 2020 nearing the end of their five-to-seven-year design life. Fallacher said last month Eutelsat targets some 1,300 OneWeb satellites in orbit by 2030 (Flip News).

Read next: Satellite internet — “SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare sends 130 satellites to orbit, including Google’s AI-chip testbed” and “OneWeb’s big week: Eutelsat targets 1,300 satellites by 2030 as EU hands IRIS² contract to Aerospacelab”.