[SatNews] UPDATE: Arianespace’s Soyuz launch at the service of O3b Networks has been postponed for 24 hours, due to unfavorable winds over the Spaceport launch site in French Guiana. This safety-related step will result in a new final countdown sequence tomorrow, June 25th, with the liftoff set for the precise moment at 3:54:03 p.m., local time in French Guiana.
The medium-lift Soyuz and its payload of four O3b Networks connectivity satellites remain in a safe mode on the Spaceport’s ELS launch pad, protected by the mobile service gantry. Designated Flight VS05 in Arianespace’s numbering system, the launch will be the first for O3b Networks as it builds a satellite constellation to provide low-cost, high-speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity to billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries. Arianespace will perform three Soyuz flights for O3b Networks, each carrying a cluster of four satellites. Two of these missions are planned in 2013, followed by the third next year.
O3b Networks, the first fiber-speed, satellite network is launching its first four satellites into orbit today. What started as a visionary idea six years ago in the jungles of Rwanda to solve the challenge of limited affordable international connectivity, has become a state-of-the-art satellite network providing billions of people across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific access to fast and affordable Internet for the first time.
The first four O3b satellites have been built, tested and are poised at the top of the Soyuz rocket waiting to be launched into orbit. O3b’s ground systems around the world are in place ready to communicate with and operate the newly launched satellites while O3b staff and customers have gathered at the Guiana Space Centre for the launch.
Payload lift performance for this mission—designated Flight VS05 in Arianespace’s family numbering system—is 3,204kg., including approximately 2,800kg. for the four Ka-band satellites, which were produced by Thales Alenia Space for O3b Networks.
Artistic rendition of O3b Network's constellation.
During Arianespace’s upcoming Soyuz flight, the initial two satellites will be released from a dispenser system at just over two hours after liftoff, followed 21 minutes later by the remaining two. Soyuz’ Fregat upper stage is to perform four separate propulsive burns in the mission profile. Arianespace is scheduled to perform the second Soyuz launch with four O3b Networks satellites later this year, followed by another mission in 2014.
O3b CTO, Brian Holz, said, “We are ready. The countdown has begun. In a few short hours, our satellites will be coming over the horizon for the first time. We are very close to launching a network that has the potential to change lives in very tangible ways and that is a tremendous feeling.”
What started as a visionary idea six years ago in the jungles of Rwanda to solve the challenge of limited affordable international connectivity, has become a state of the art satellite network providing billions of people across Africa, Latin America, The Middle East, Asia and The Pacific access to fast and affordable internet for the first time.
O3b Networks Limited is a global satellite service provider building a next-generation satellite network for telecommunications operators, Internet service providers, enterprise and government customers in emerging markets. The O3b system will combine the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber‐optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low‐cost, high‐speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. O3b Networks’ investors include SES, Google, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina, Satya Capital and Luxempart. O3b Networks is headquartered in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.