Roscosmos to launch other satellites via rockets built for OneWeb

MOSCOW, Mar 22 (PRIME) -- Russia will withdraw all six Soyuz rockets supposed to lift off OneWeb satellites and will use them for launches under the federal program and other customers instead, Dmitry Strugovets, head of the press service of state corporation Roscosmos, told reporters on Tuesday.

“Russia is withdrawing six carrier vehicles paid for by the foreign customer from the OneWeb project,” Strugovets said.

Roscosmos General Director Dmitry Rogozin said earlier in March that OneWeb, a U.K.-based communications company that aims to build broadband satellite Internet services, will go bankrupt after the corporation’s refusal to give them rockets.

Russia cancelled to launch OneWeb satellites after the U.K. government said it would not leave the board of directors and the company did not guarantee that the satellites would not be used in military purposes.

End %%ee/jst%%