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www.dailymail.co.uk_sciencetech 2015 02388.txt.txt

#Airbus takes on Spacex: Firm set to build world's largest satellite constellation to beam the internet around the world By Sarah Griffiths for Mailonline Published: 17:32 GMT, 16 june 2015 Updated: 17:32 GMT, 16 june 2015 Aerospace behemoth Airbus is set to build the largest satellite constellation seen so far. Its British partner, Oneweb wants to provide high speed internet access to unconnected places in the world, using a fleet of 600 satellites. The company will be going head-to-head with other projects, including one planned by Elon musk, who intends to beam the internet to Earth from space. Airbus will make 900 spacecraft-building up to four a day-with 300 to be kept as spares for after the proposed launches, which could begin as early as 2018. The system will bring more than 10 Terabits per second of new capacity to rural areas around the globe Oneweb said. The deal was announced at the Paris Airshow. Oneweb constellation will be ten times as large as any commercial network launched so far, but it will have to compete with Spacex grand plans to launch more than 4, 000 small satellites into Earth orbit over 15 years, with the aim of getting unconnected parts of the world online. Each of Oneweb satellites will have a mass less then 330 lbs (150kg) and are expected to cost less than half a million dollars each, the BBC reported. The first 10 satellites will be built at Airbusfactory in Toulouse France, with further satellites to be built at a dedicated facility in the US. Brian Holz, Head of Space Systems at Oneweb, said: e have worked with Airbus Space and Defence, to streamline the manufacturing process to the point that several satellites can be produced each day. his will redefine the cost structure for satellites, enabling rapid iteration and development of space related technologies. neweb plan involves 20 groups of low-orbiting satellites being connected to small terminals on the ground that would act as hubs to link to phones and computers. Rockets will be needed to propel the spacecraft into Earth orbit, and Sir Richard Branson Virgin galactic may be an option. The entrepreneur sits on Oneweb board and is in the process of developing a satellite launch system based on the group tourist space plane. Francois Auque director of Airbus's Defence and Space programme, said: his partnership is a fantastic new chapter in our space story.?Teaming with Oneweb with a requirement to produce several small satellites each day has inspired us to develop innovative designs and processes that will dramatically lower the cost in large volumes for high performance space applications. ithout doubt, this programme is challenging but wee ready for it. n February, Spacex CEO Elon musk announced that his company was seeking permission to conduct tests ahead of its own ultimate goal, which is to launch 4, 025 small satellites into Earth orbit over a period of 15 years. If this happens, Oneweb's constellation would not be the largest. According to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission tests could begin next year, with the service provisionally up and running in five years. The Washington post reported that the tests will ee whether the antenna technology used on the satellites will be able to deliver high-speed Internet to the ground without hiccups. r Musk has said previously that he expects his service to handle 10 per cent of all Internet traffic and provide an alternative to current providers, and that Spacex existing Falcon 9 rockets will be used to launch the thousands of satellites. However, it not clear how the Internet will be eamedto smartphones and other devices On earth. Each satellite will be placed at a height of 750 miles (1 200km) in a variety of orbits, to ensure that the whole Earth constantly has access to their Internet. This is far closer than communications satellites, which are located in geosynchronous orbit at 22,000 miles (35,400 km). Google and Facebook also have plans to get remote parts of the world online, by using satellites, balloons and even drones. a

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