Scott Nicholas
A joint venture between Airbus and OneWeb has concluded the preliminary design review for a proposed constellation of about 900 broadband satellites and aims to complete the subcontractor lineup for the estimated $3.5 billion project early next month, Space News reported Wednesday.
Peter de Selding writes OneWeb Satellites partnered with Airbus‘s defense and space segment to design and build 10 pilot satellites they plan to launch in late 2017 aboard a Europeanized Russian Soyuz rocket.
OneWeb Satellites aims to complete its entire constellation by 2019, according to the report.
The report said the company has sought the help of non-space companies to support the 900-satellite project that will require the production of 15,000 solid-state power amplifiers, 540,000 inserts for the honeycomb panels and 1,800 star trackers.
“For some of the space subcontractors this means starting a new production line, including starting with us in Toulouse and in Florida,†Eric de Saintignon, OneWeb Satellites CEO told Space News.
“The development part of the contract is to produce an early product and the processes [for future full-scale production] so that we can qualify it all together,” de Saintignon added.
Airbus and OneWeb established their JV in January with the goal to deliver internet communications services globally.
