Airbus to build giant satellite network

Airbus Defence and Space, the world’s second largest space company, announced at the Paris Air Show on the 15 June 2015 that it had been selected by OneWeb Ltd. as its industrial partner for the design and manufacturing of its fleet of microsatellites. This initial production of 900 satellites, each weighing less than 150 kilogrammes, was planned for launch into low Earth orbit beginning in 2018 to deliver affordable Internet access globally.

The BBC reported that the multi-billion-dollar OneWeb constellation would dwarf any previous commercial network in the sky by a factor of 10, and would be a big challenge for Airbus.

• Primary Source

Airbus: Press Release, 15.06.15: Airbus Defence and Space Selected to Partner in Production of OneWeb Satellite Constellation http://airbusdefenceandspace.com/newsroom/news-and-features/airbus-defence-and-space-selected-to-partner-in-production-of-oneweb-satellite-constellation/

Aviation Week: Aerospace Daily and Defnse Report, 15.06.15: OneWeb Taps Airbus As Partner In Internet Satellite Constellation http://aviationweek.com/paris-air-show-2015/oneweb-taps-airbus-partner-internet-satellite-constellation

Deutsche Welle, 15.06.15: Paris Air Show sales off to flying start http://dw.de/p/1FhS5

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