KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — During an early evening launch, SpaceX successfully sent up OneWeb’s broadband internet satellites.
What You Need To Know
- SpaceX and OneWeb are preparing for the OneWeb 1 mission
- OneWeb 1 mission will place 40 broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit
- RELATED coverage: OneWeb prepares for first Florida launch with competitor, SpaceX
- 🔻Scroll down to watch the launch🔻
Lifting off from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, the Falcon 9 rocket sent OneWeb 1 mission’s 40 satellites into low-Earth orbit at around 5:27 p.m. EST.
The 45th Weather Squadron gave a 90% chance of good launch weather.
The Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, B1069, has launched three missions: CRS-24, Hotbird 13F and a Starlink mission.
And the booster did not land on a SpaceX droneship but at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which meant sonic booms were heard.
About the mission
The London-based company's 40 satellites join the fleet of already 462 satellites in low-Earth orbit. The company plans to eventually have a total of 648 satellites.
While OneWeb had its satellites launched from various places like Russia and India, this mission will be the first time the company will lift off from Florida, the company stated in a press release. This is interesting because the satellites are built at Airbus OneWeb Satellites at Merritt Island, Fla.
You can learn more about the company, why it no longer launches from Russia and its unique relationship with competitor SpaceX here.
Watch the launch
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