--- title: "Satellite Company Now Launching With SpaceX After Ditching Russia" description: "UK-based satellite internet company OneWeb has signed a contract with SpaceX — shortly after ditching the Russian-made Soyuz over the Ukraine invasion." date: "2022-03-21" modified: "2022-03-21" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/satellite-company-spacex-ditching-russia" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "OneWeb" - "Russia" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" --- # Satellite Company Now Launching With SpaceX After Ditching Russia ![UK-based satellite internet company OneWeb has signed a contract with SpaceX — shortly after ditching the Russian-made Soyuz over the Ukraine invasion.]() *\Image: Roscosmos\* ## Choosing SpaceX UK-based satellite internet company OneWeb has [signed a contract]() with SpaceX — shortly after [ditching the Russian-made Soyuz]() for an upcoming launch, a direct consequence over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "The first launch with SpaceX is anticipated in 2022 and will add to OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation that currently stands at 428 satellites, or 66 percent of the fleet," a [press release]() reads. "We thank SpaceX for their support, which reflects our shared vision for the boundless potential of space," OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson said. While exact details and terms of the agreement are still under wraps, the news is representative of the international space community's greater shift away from relying on Russian-made rockets amid the Ukraine crisis — and turning to the Elon Musk-led company for orbital launch services instead. ## Safety Not Guaranteed Earlier this month, OneWeb announced it [cancelled six upcoming launches]() all using Russian Soyuz rockets. The move followed unusual comments made by Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s space chief, who [demanded OneWeb]() to provide several guarantees the broadband satellites "will not be used for military purposes." Rogozin even had the country's space agency Roscosmos [cover up British, American, and Japanese flags]() attached to the rocket meant to launch OneWeb satellites. OneWeb isn't the only entity making moves to end their reliance on Russian rockets. NASA is already looking at ways to continue operations on board the International Space Station [without Russia's presence](). The European Space Agency [also announced]() last week it is suspending the launch of its ExoMars rover mission, because it was planning to use a Russian-made Proton rocket. Given this news, it's not hard to imagine other space companies following suit, as the international cold shoulder towards Russia on terra firma looks more and more to extend well beyond Earth's atmosphere. **READ MORE:** [OneWeb reaches launch deal with SpaceX]() \[*SpaceNews*\] **More on the situation:** *[NASA Explains What Would Happen If Russia Abandoned the Space Station]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()