OneWeb Satellites’ Debra Facktor on Smallsat Production Plans, UK Gov’t Acquisition

Debra Facktor, a board member at an Airbus and OneWeb joint venture, has said the JV is working on a new batch of satellites to support long-term efforts to expand its clientele, SpaceNews reported Sunday.

Facktor told the publication in a prior interview that OneWeb Satellites plans to mass-produce small satellites following the sale of OneWeb to the U.K. government and telecommunications company Bharti Global to avoid bankruptcy.

According to Facktor, Bharti and the U.K. government's acquisition of OneWeb enabled the JV to secure financing for satellite production at its recently opened factory in Florida.

She added that OneWeb Satellites is “committed to the U.S.” and the Florida location, which is meant to support the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Blackjack initiative as well as other programs with the U.S. Space Force, Missile Defense Agency and Space Development Agency.

“Our supplier ecosystem remains global and we are working with our suppliers to meet the U. S. government’s needs for their payloads and missions,” said Facktor.

OneWeb Satellites plans to scale up smallsat production to a maximum of eight platforms per week, she noted.

In March, the JV launched 34 smallsats to low-Earth orbit as part of plans to establish a broadband megaconstellation.