OneWeb’s Soyuz-2 launch vehicles repurposed by Roscosmos

Roscosmos’ CEO Dmitry Rogozin confirmed that the Soyuz-2 launch vehicles that were withdrawn from OneWeb’s launch projects, will be used for other satellite launches this year. Russian private space companies are due to receive “unprecedented support” from Roscosmos, inclusive of “access to new domestic developments in the sphere of space equipment engineering” and “spacecraft created by private design bureaus and start-ups delivered to the orbit practically for free,” Rogozin said. OneWeb previously booked the Baikonur cosmodrome, owned by Roscosmos, and planned to use Russian-built Soyuz rockets under Ariane control for all its launches this year, which have all been cancelled.