On May 20, SpaceX launched a technology demonstration satellite for the second-generation OneWeb broadband cluster, along with spare parts for the UK firm’s existing low Earth orbit (LEO) network and another network operated by the US company Iridium Communications.

The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a total of 21 spacecraft, was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 9:16 a.m. ET amid dense fog on a southward polar orbit. All five Iridium backups were deployed an hour later, followed by 16 paired OneWeb satellites.

The first stage of the launch vehicle successfully landed on an unmanned ship in the Atlantic Ocean for reuse after its eleventh flight. OneWeb and Iridium have separately confirmed that they have made contact with all of their satellites after the mission, which was delayed one day for reasons SpaceX did not disclose.

OneWeb currently has 633 first-generation satellites in LEO, but only 588 are needed to provide global coverage, with the rest serving as backup in orbit. The satellites running OneWeb have surpassed the 588 satellite mark launched on March 25, and the company recently said it is on track to launch global commercial services by January.

The satellites were built by prime contractor Airbus OneWeb Satellites, a Florida-based joint venture the operator shares with Airbus. Iridium has selected European company Thales Alenia Space as the prime contractor for the Iridium NEXT communications group, which consists of 66 active satellites in LEO. SpaceX launched all these satellites between 2017 and 2019, in addition to the nine spares in orbit.

The mission on May 20 launched five of the six backup satellites that Iridium had kept in storage for at least four years. Iridium has not released any plans to deploy the final piece of land.

OneWeb Gen2

JoeySat, one of the satellites launched for OneWeb, is designed to test the capabilities of the second-generation array, which the company says could begin distribution as early as 2025. According to OneWeb, one of JoeySat’s few new technologies is the ability to remotely direct beams and signal strength, allowing the satellite to increase capacity in high-use areas in response to spikes in demand.

Israeli company SatixFy created the JoeySat payload with support from the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency for assembly on Airbus OneWeb Satellites. JoeySat uses the same satellite platform as the 150kg OneWeb Gen 1 spacecraft.

Eutelsat, the French geostationary fleet operator seeking regulatory approval to acquire OneWeb, said on May 11 that Gen 2 satellites would be bulkier than Gen 1 and could provide three to five times more bandwidth.

The companies also expect to only need a batch of around 300 Gen 2 satellites, in part because they can use the Eutelsat network in stable orbit in high-demand regions.