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| Airbus to build giant satellite network | Airbus to build giant satellite network |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| European aerospace giant, Airbus, has been contracted to build the world's largest satellite constellation. | European aerospace giant, Airbus, has been contracted to build the world's largest satellite constellation. |
| The company will produce 900 spacecraft for OneWeb, a British Channel Islands-registered concern that aims to broaden internet access to the underserved. | The company will produce 900 spacecraft for OneWeb, a British Channel Islands-registered concern that aims to broaden internet access to the underserved. |
| More than 600 satellites will initially be launched, with the rest held as spares. | More than 600 satellites will initially be launched, with the rest held as spares. |
| The deal was announced at the Paris Airshow. | The deal was announced at the Paris Airshow. |
| The multi-billion-dollar OneWeb constellation will dwarf any previous commercial network in the sky by a factor of 10. | The multi-billion-dollar OneWeb constellation will dwarf any previous commercial network in the sky by a factor of 10. |
| And it will represent an immense challenge for Airbus, which traditionally has made some of the world's highest-spec and most expensive telecommunications platforms. | And it will represent an immense challenge for Airbus, which traditionally has made some of the world's highest-spec and most expensive telecommunications platforms. |
| In contrast, its workflow for OneWeb will have to be high volume at an extremely low cost. | In contrast, its workflow for OneWeb will have to be high volume at an extremely low cost. |
| Step-change in thinking? | Step-change in thinking? |
| Each satellite is expected to be about 150kg is size, and OneWeb was reportedly looking for a price per unit of less than half a million dollars. | Each satellite is expected to be about 150kg is size, and OneWeb was reportedly looking for a price per unit of less than half a million dollars. |
| Airbus says it will make the first 10 spacecraft at its Toulouse manufacturing facility before shifting work to a dedicated plant in the United States. | Airbus says it will make the first 10 spacecraft at its Toulouse manufacturing facility before shifting work to a dedicated plant in the United States. |
| Many rockets will be required to get the constellation in orbit, and that is likely to involve Richard Branson's Virgin Group. As well as being heavily involved with the OneWeb project, Sir Richard is also developing a satellite launch system based on his tourist spaceplane. | |
| Airbus would not give a formal interview at the airshow but issued a statement from its head of space systems. | Airbus would not give a formal interview at the airshow but issued a statement from its head of space systems. |
| “This partnership is a fantastic new chapter in our space story,” said François Auque. | “This partnership is a fantastic new chapter in our space story,” said François Auque. |
| “Teaming with OneWeb with a requirement to produce several small satellites each day has inspired us to develop innovative designs and processes that will dramatically lower the cost in large volumes for high performance space applications. | “Teaming with OneWeb with a requirement to produce several small satellites each day has inspired us to develop innovative designs and processes that will dramatically lower the cost in large volumes for high performance space applications. |
| “Without doubt, this programme is challenging but we’re ready for it because we have leveraged resources and expertise across the entire Airbus Group.” | “Without doubt, this programme is challenging but we’re ready for it because we have leveraged resources and expertise across the entire Airbus Group.” |
| OneWeb is led by Greg Wyler, who started the O3B satellite network. This is a 12-satellite constellation providing “backhaul” telecommunications services, also in broadband underserved countries. | OneWeb is led by Greg Wyler, who started the O3B satellite network. This is a 12-satellite constellation providing “backhaul” telecommunications services, also in broadband underserved countries. |
| But Wyler’s OneWeb venture is a step-change in thinking. | But Wyler’s OneWeb venture is a step-change in thinking. |
| The plan envisages 20 planes of satellites in the sky connecting to small user terminals on the ground. These terminals would then link out to local phone networks and web hubs. | The plan envisages 20 planes of satellites in the sky connecting to small user terminals on the ground. These terminals would then link out to local phone networks and web hubs. |
| Satellite constellations, it has to be said, have had a rather chequered history. | Satellite constellations, it has to be said, have had a rather chequered history. |
| Even some of today’s big players, like satphone service providers Iridium and GlobalStar, got themselves into enormous financial trouble when building their first-generation networks. | Even some of today’s big players, like satphone service providers Iridium and GlobalStar, got themselves into enormous financial trouble when building their first-generation networks. |
| OneWeb will have to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain a venture that will not be fully operational for some years. | OneWeb will have to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain a venture that will not be fully operational for some years. |