An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch the first six OneWeb internet satellites into orbit at 4:37 p.m. EST (2137 GMT). You will be able to watch it here at launch time, courtesy of a feed from Arianespace. You can also watch directly from Arianespace's YouTube here.

Today's launch will be the second of the year for Arianespace and the first for OneWeb, which aims to build a constellation of hundreds of satellites to provide broadband internet communications to customers around the world.

The mission was delayed from a planned Feb. 25 launch due to an anomaly on a different Soyuz launch by Russia's Roscosmos agency last week.

Mission Description

For its second mission of the year — and the initial flight in 2019 with the Soyuz medium launcher — Arianespace will perform the first launch for the OneWeb constellation and orbit six satellites.

By operating this maiden flight, out of 21 launches on behalf of the global satellite operator, Arianespace participates in the fulfilment of its customer’s ultimate ambition: providing Internet access for everyone, everywhere.

The 21st Soyuz launch from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) will place its satellite passengers into a low Earth orbit, at an altitude of 1,000 km.

The Soyuz ST-B launcher will be carrying a total payload of 1,945.2 kg.

The launch will be performed from the Soyuz Launch Complex (ELS) in Sinnamary, French Guiana.

Payload: OneWeb F6

Flight VS21, the 21st Soyuz mission from the Guiana Space Center, will put the first six OneWeb satellites into a circular low Earth orbit at 1,000 km. (close to their operational orbit), along with four Mass Flight Simulators (MFS) that will not be separated from the launcher’s dispenser system.

The first to sixth OneWeb satellites to be launched by Arianespace on Flight VS21 are designated OneWeb F6.

In June 2015, Arianespace and OneWeb signed an agreement for the deployment of Phase no.1 of the eponymous constellation, covering 21 launches with the medium-lift Soyuz to orbit the initial constellation satellites from three spaceports (Kourou in French Guiana; the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan; and Vostochny, Russia) through 2020.

OneWeb’s mission is to deliver global communications through a next-generation satellite constellation that will bring seamless connectivity to everyone, everywhere.

To achieve its purpose, OneWeb is building a network composed of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide high-speed, low latency services to a range of markets including aeronautics, maritime, backhaul services, community Wi-Fi, emergency response services and more. Central to its mission, OneWeb will also be focused on connecting unconnected schools and working to bridge the digital divide for people everywhere.

With its system deployed, the OneWeb constellation will enable user terminals capable of offering 3G, LTE, 5G and Wi-Fi coverage, giving high-speed access around the world – by air, sea and land.

OneWeb’s initial constellation will be compromised of approximately 650 satellites and will scale to more than 900 satellites as it grows to meet demand around the world. OneWeb will begin customer demos in 2020 and provide global, 24-hour coverage to customers in 2021.

OneWeb Satellites – a joint-venture between OneWeb and Airbus Defence and Space – is the prime contractor of the constellation. The OneWeb F6 spacecraft were built in its Toulouse-based serial production line dedicated to the assembly, integration, and test of the first satellites.

OneWeb F6 will be the 1st to 6th OneWeb satellites to be launched by Arianespace, which has the next satellites of the initial constellation left in its order book.

They will also be the 124th to 129th Airbus Defence and Space spacecraft launched by Arianespace, whose backlog (excluding the OneWeb satellites) consists of 21 additional satellites.

APCO Technologies, is responsible for designing and building the four Mass Flight Simulators that are carried on Flight VS21.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-1 Schedule

NASA and SpaceX have cleared the first Crew Dragon test flight for its March 2 launch. Our wrap story will be posted shortly. The decision, announced Feb. 22, follows a Flight Readiness Review meeting of more than 100 NASA and SpaceX officials.

Resources

SpaceX Dragon Crew Demo-1 Flight: What to Expect

How to Watch SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-1 Test Flight Live

"NASA will provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch and launch activities for the SpaceX Demo-1 flight test to the International Space Station for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, which is working with the U.S. aerospace industry to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil for the first time since 2011.

"NASA and SpaceX are targeting 2:48 a.m. EST Saturday, March 2, for the launch of the company’s uncrewed Demo-1 flight, which will be the first time a commercially built and operated American rocket and spacecraft designed for humans will launch to the space station. The launch, as well as other activities leading up to the launch, will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

"The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft will launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Crew Dragon is scheduled to dock to the space station at approximately 5:55 a.m. Sunday, March 3.

"This will be the first uncrewed flight test of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and will provide data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking and landing operations.

"The flight test also will provide valuable data toward NASA certifying SpaceX’s crew transportation system for carrying astronauts to and from the space station. SpaceX’s Demo-2 test flight, which will fly NASA astronauts to the space station, is targeted to launch in July.

"Following each flight, NASA will review performance data to ensure each upcoming mission is as safe as possible. After completion of all test flights, NASA will continue its review of the systems and flight data for certification ahead of the start of regular crewed flights to the space station."

Full Demo-1 coverage is as follows. All times are EST:

Friday, Feb. 22

Thursday, Feb. 28

Saturday, March 2

Sunday, March 3

Friday, March 8

For more information on event coverage, got to:

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-spacex-demo-1-briefings-events-and-broadcasts

The goal of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station, which could allow for additional research time and increase the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity’s testbed for exploration. For launch countdown coverage, NASA's launch blog, and more information about the mission, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

Live HD Views of Earth from Space

You can watch live, high-definition views of Earth from the International Space Station thanks to NASA's High Definition Earth Viewing experiment (HDEV). This live video provides alternating views from four of the station's external cameras nearly 24/7, with the exception of regular and temporary dropouts that occur when the station switches its connection between different communications satellites. Watch it live in the window above, courtesy of NASA TV.

From NASA:

"Behold, the Earth! See live views of Earth from the International Space Station coming to you by NASA's High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) experiment.

"While the experiment is operational, views will typically sequence through the different cameras. If you are seeing a black image, the Space Station is on the night side of the Earth. If you are seeing an image with text displayed, the communications are switching between satellites and camera feeds are temporarily unavailable. Between camera switches, a black & gray slate will also briefly appear.

"The experiment was activated on April 30, 2014 and is mounted on the External Payload Facility of the European Space Agency’s Columbus module. This experiment includes several commercial HD video cameras aimed at the Earth which are enclosed in a pressurized and temperature controlled housing. To learn more about the HDEV experiment, visit: https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/ESRS/HDEV/

"Please note: The HDEV cycling of the cameras will sometimes be halted, causing the video to only show select camera feeds. This is handled by the HDEV team, and is only scheduled on a temporary basis. Nominal video will resume once the team has finished their scheduled event."

'ISS Live!' Tune in to the International Space Station

Find out what the astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station are up to by tuning in to the "ISS Live" broadcast. Hear conversations between the crew and mission controllers on Earth and watch them work inside the U.S. segment of the orbiting laboratory. When the crew is off duty, you can enjoy live views of Earth from Space. You can watch and listen in the window below, courtesy of NASA.

From NASA:

"Live video from the International Space Station includes internal views when the crew is on-duty and Earth views at other times. The video is accompanied by audio of conversations between the crew and Mission Control. This video is only available when the space station is in contact with the ground. During 'loss of signal' periods, viewers will see a blue screen.

"Since the station orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes, it experiences a sunrise or a sunset about every 45 minutes. When the station is in darkness, external camera video may appear black, but can sometimes provide spectacular views of lightning or city lights below."

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