UNITED STATES: In its second launch of the year, Elon Musk’s SpaceX will launch 40 satellites for its rival company OneWeb’s internet constellation.
SpaceX has been launching Starlink, its own constellation of internet satellites, into orbit for several years.
Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida will serve as the launch pad for the 40 satellites as they are sent into low-Earth orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket.
On January 10, the probes will launch at 04:50 UTC (10:20 a.m.), and the satellites will be deployed around 58 minutes later.
The CRS-26 mission was launched with a Falcon-9 rocket in the past. After the stages are separated, the first stage will touch down at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1).
According to the Musk-led corporation, the spacecraft and vehicles are in good condition, and the weather is 90% favourable for takeoff.
Following a successful launch in December, this will be OneWeb’s 16th mission and its second with SpaceX, keeping the firm on track to provide global coverage in 2023.
More than 80% of its first-generation constellation will provide its partners with worldwide wholesale access.
Thanks to the launch, the company will be able to continue growing its fleet and offering services to more partners in the US, southern Europe, Australia, and other countries.
OneWeb said in a statement that its connectivity solutions are already in use in Alaska, Canada, the UK, Greenland, and the larger Arctic region.
These solutions give unserved and underserved rural and remote communities and businesses internet connectivity.
After Russia refused to provide launch services as a result of the Ukraine War and Western country sanctions, the company joined up with SpaceX.
OneWeb used the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in addition to SpaceX to launch its satellites in 2022.
Also Read: ISRO Makes Huge Future Plans for 2023
