Arianespace will launch dozens of OneWeb satellites on a Soyuz rocket today. Here's how to watch.

Update for May 28: Arianespace and Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, have successfully launched the OneWeb Launch 7 mission, putting 36 internet satellite into orbit. Read our full story here.


A Soyuz rocket will launch a new clutch of 36 OneWeb internet satellites into orbit from Russia today (May 27) and you can watch the liftoff live online.

Arianespace and partner Starsem will launch the Soyuz mission, called ST32, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia at 1:43 p.m. EDT (1743 GMT, or 2:43 a.m. local time on Friday, May 28). 

You can watch the launch here and on the Space.com homepage, as well as via Arianespace's YouTube channel or OneWeb's website and YouTube channel. The launch webcast should begin about 20 minutes beforehand.

The launch will take roughly 3 hours and 51 minutes for an Arianespace Soyuz rocket to deploy the satellites into a near-polar orbit over four separations, OneWeb's press release stated, adding that the new launch will bring its constellation to 218 satellites.  

Related: Russia's Space Centers and Launch Sites in Pictures

A Soyuz rocket carrying 36 OneWeb internet satellites stands atop its launchpad at Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome ahead of a launch by Arianespace and Starsem on May 27, 2021. (Image credit: Arianespace)

The satellites will operate at roughly 280 miles (450 km) in altitude, Arianespace stated in a separate release. The satellites' planned altitude is roughly equivalent to the 250-mile (400 km) altitude of the International Space Station, which operates in a different orbit inclined by roughly 52 degrees.

OneWeb plans to provide satellite-based internet access to traditionally underserved areas north of the 50th parallel, the company said. "These regions include the U.K., northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic seas and Canada. Global services to follow in 2022," OneWeb added in its statement. 

The company has said it plans to start service in the north in June. Thursday's flight is part of the company's "Five to 50" program that will serve commercial entities in northern territories, in bands including 3G, LTE, 5G and wi-fi.

Flight ST32 is the fourth OneWeb launch since the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2020. The company is now owned by the British government and the Indian telecom firm Bharti Global; it also greatly reduced how many satellites it plans to put into space, to a first tranche of 650.

A stack of 36 OneWeb internet satellites are seen in launch configuration ahead for OneWeb's Launch 7 mission liftoff off set for May 27, 2021. (Image credit: Arianespace)

OneWeb is one of numerous companies using fleets of small satellites to provide broadband services. Some of its largest competitors are SpaceX, which just sent another 60 Starlink satellites to orbit on Wednesday (May 26), and Amazon, which selected United Launch Alliance last month for nine eventual launches in support of the new Project Kuiper broadband constellation.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace