Russia launches 36 UK satellites into space

The mission for the deployment is to provide broadband internet everywhere in the world…reports Asian Lite News

Along with 36 satellites from British operator OneWeb, a Russian Soyuz rocket has blasted into space on Thursday.

The mission for the deployment is to provide broadband internet everywhere in the world, according to media reported.

The rocket, operated by Europe’s Arianespace, took off at 0940 GMT from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East, broadcast live by the country’s Roscosmos space agency.

“LIFTOFF!” Roscosmos tweeted after the launch — the seventh this year carrying OneWeb satellites.

OneWeb, a London-headquartered company, is working to complete the construction of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites providing enhanced broadband and other services to countries around the world.

The company is competing in the race to provide fast internet for the world’s remote areas via satellites along with tech billionaire Elon Musk and fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos of Amazon.

Mission success! 🚀 We are pleased to confirm signal acquisition of all 34 satellites. This latest launch brings our total in-orbit constellation to 322 satellites, nearly half of our entire constellation. Thank you to everyone who made today's mission a success. #OneWebLaunch10 pic.twitter.com/Gsx5ytR4vp
— Eutelsat Group (@EutelsatGroup) September 15, 2021

Last month, the government had set out new plans to strengthen the UK as a world class space nation by firing up its multibillion-pound space industry in a National Space Strategy.

The National Space Strategy is aimed at empowering British space businesses to innovate and grow by unlocking private finance, while positioning the UK at the forefront of international space research – whether that’s by supporting the first British spaceport satellite launch due in 2022, or leading international space missions that help tackle global challenges such as climate change.

The Strategy brings together the UK government’s civil and defence space activities to ensure an integrated approach to combating hostile forces and emerging international threats such as cyber-attacks and anti-satellite missiles, while protecting UK interests at home and abroad.

It also sets out how the government will build on the UK’s strengths in space including satellite manufacturing and communications, while working with British companies at the cutting edge of the latest advances in space technologies.