The British satellite communication company "OneWeb" has announced that Russia's Space Development Corporation will refuse to launch the rocket scheduled for the 6th of this month, and will launch satellites by Russian rockets in the future. Announced that it will stop.

OneWeb, a satellite communications company headquartered in the United Kingdom, has signed a satellite launch contract with Russia's space development corporation "Roscosmos", and on the 6th of this month from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a small Russian Souse rocket We were planning to launch 36 communication satellites.

However, Roscosmos president Rogozin has opposed the announcement of economic sanctions against Russia on the 2nd, promising that the satellite will not be used for military purposes, and the British government that owns a part of OneWeb's stock. Posted a message on Twitter that he would not launch unless he let go of the stock, along with a video of the US and Japan on the rocket covering the flags of the United States and Japan.



In response, OneWeb announced on the 3rd that it has "decided to suspend all future launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome" as a result of a vote on the board of directors.




The British government's Minister of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said it "supports OneWeb's decision" and will review its partnership with Russia.

Affect cooperation

Russia participates in the operation of the International Space Station together with the United States, European countries, and Japan. Since the beginning of sanctions, it has repeatedly suggested ending these partnerships.



Russian spacecraft are responsible for regular engine injections to maintain the altitude of the International Space Station.



However, President Rogozin said last month, "Who will save the situation where the International Space Station goes out of control and goes out of orbit and falls to the United States and Europe if we break the cooperation with Russia?" It could fall to India or China. All risks are yours. "



Also, next month, the ESA = European Space Agency satellite was scheduled to be launched by a Russian rocket from French Guiana in South America, but the launch is in danger because Russian engineers will return all at once. ..



In addition, the influence of the Mars probe, which was planned to be launched jointly by ESA and Russia, is spreading, as ESA issued a statement saying that it is unlikely that it will be launched on schedule.



On the other hand, NASA = US Aeronautics and Space Administration has shown a restraining reaction, saying that "there is no change in activities at the International Space Station."



At the end of this month, American astronauts will return to Earth on a Russian spacecraft, but it is being watched whether it will be carried out as planned.