A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the OneWeb Launch 17 mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 2:13 p.m. on 9 March 2023. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, and seven Starlink missions.

What:
OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, will launch 40 satellites with SpaceX no earlier than Thursday, 9 March 2023, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This launch will be OneWeb’s seventeenth to date, and its third with SpaceX, keeping the company on track to deliver global coverage in 2023.

Why:
This is the penultimate mission for OneWeb, whose next flight will complete the global footprint of OneWeb’s constellation. Launch 17 will add another 40 satellites to OneWeb’s first-generation constellation, bringing the total number of satellites in-orbit to 582. This milestone mission marks OneWeb’s third time launching from Florida, where its satellites are also produced by OneWeb Satellites – a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus.

The launch will enable the company to continue expanding services around the world as it grows its fleet and seeks to initiate services for more partners around the world, providing internet connectivity to unserved and underserved rural and remote communities and businesses.

OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, today confirmed the successful deployment and contact of 40 satellites launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Lift-off took place on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 2:13pm ET (local). OneWeb’s satellites separated successfully from the rocket and were dispensed using three separation groups over a period of 40 minutes, with the last separation occurring one hour and 35 minutes after launch. Signal acquisition on all 40 satellites has been confirmed.

This launch is OneWeb’s seventeenth to date, and the penultimate mission to complete OneWeb's first- generation (Gen 1) LEO satellite constellation and enable global coverage in 2023. With 582 satellites now in orbit, OneWeb will complete its global footprint of the Gen 1 constellation with a launch scheduled for later this month with ISRO/NSIL.

Today’s launch enables OneWeb to continue expanding its connectivity capabilities as it grows its fleet of satellites and seeks to initiate services for more partners around the world. OneWeb already has connectivity solutions active today in key geographies across the globe and is bringing new areas online by partnering with leading providers including VEON, Orange, Galaxy Broadband, Paratus, Telespazio, and more.