'Inappropriate': UK taxpayer-backed satellites set to be launched from Russian-owned facility, on Russian rockets
OneWeb was saved from bankruptcy by the UK government- but is due to launch satellites from a Russian-owned launch pad on Russian-owned rockets.
Tuesday 1 March 2022 23:05, UK
A company part-owned by the British government is set to launch satellites from a Russian-run facility later this week, a leading MP has warned.
Commons business committee chair Darren Jones said it was "inappropriate" for OneWeb satellites to take off from a launch pad at the the Russian-owned Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, on Russian Soyuz rockets.
Satellite company OneWeb was bought out of bankruptcy by British taxpayers in 2020, giving the government a £400m stake.
It has 36 satellites ready to be launched in Kazakhstan to complete the OneWeb constellation to deliver broadband internet connections to the world.
At the moment their existing spacecraft can only deliver broadband internet connections to locations above 50 degrees North, including BT in the UK.
They are expected to be launched on Friday at 10.41pm GMT in partnership with the Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos.
Mr Jones has written to science minister George Freeman asking for the government to ask whether it considers the situation to be "inappropriate", given Russia has invaded Ukraine.
He told Paste BN: "Much like the ask of BP and Shell, OneWeb should not be continuing to engage in commercial activities with Russian companies.
"Ministers should be working with the OneWeb board to help secure this outcome as soon as possible."
He asked Mr Freeman whether the government intended to intervene and requested information about what, if any, payments had been made to Russian-owned entities and whether they would be subject to sanctions.
The Labour MP also asked if the government was helping OneWeb to find an alternative rocket launch facility so it did not have to use the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
In his letter, he added: "Given the urgency of this issue and the potential for launches to take place today, I'd be grateful for your immediate response."
There has been mounting concern that international sanctions on Russia could halt the launch of OneWeb's 36 satellites.
Chris McLaughlin, OneWeb's chief of government, regulatory affairs and engagement, told industry website SpaceNews: "So far it looks like we're on - but who knows?
"I wouldn't like to speculate on the launch."
Russia's space agency said last week it was halting cooperation with Europe on launches using Soyuz rockets from French Guiana, where OneWeb's last batch of satellites were launched on 10 February.
Mr McLaughlin said the remaining launches had already been paid for, which would make it difficult for sanctions to block the Kazakhstan launch this week.
And Roscosmos tweeted on Tuesday that the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket has been cleared "for rollout and installation at the launch pad on 2 March".
It is also unclear whether export restrictions could affect the transport of OneWeb satellites from where they are made in Florida to the Kazakhstan launch pad.