Following the news that OneWeb has ceased using Russian rockets:

William Davies, Associate Defense Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

“The decision by OneWeb to suspend launches from the Kazakhstan launch site Baikonur and move to partner with the French company ArianeSpace is a significant blow to the Russian space industry. This is likely to further damage the state space agency Roscosmos and affect cooperation on the International Space Station (ISS).

“OneWeb, a UK-based company, is producing a network of 648 satellites, aimed to be completed in 2022, which would provide global access to satellite internet broadband even in remote locations. This network can potentially provide a communications network to businesses, governments and communities, as well as providing 5G to aviation and maritime operators.

“The economic damage and sanctions initiated by the invasion of Ukraine is likely to cripple the Russian space industry, and Roscosmos in particular. It will benefit players in the space industry based in the West, in particular SpaceX, which is now cementing its status in the market for space launch systems. SpaceX has worked with NASA since 2006, including transporting astronauts to the ISS in 2020. The company has already sought to plug the gap created by the launch systems previously fielded by Roscosmos, offering to supply materials to the ISS as necessary.”