The protective payload fairing partially encapsulates Soyuz Flight VS14 satellite passengers. Photo: Arianespace

[Via Satellite 05-23-2016] Arianespace has signed a contract with OneWeb to design, qualify and supply 21 payload dispensers for the deployment of the company’s small satellite constellation, along with five more on option. Ruag Space in Sweden will be the prime contractor in charge of development and production of the dispenser systems, which will first secure the satellites during their flight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and then release them into space. The dispensers are designed to accommodate up to 32 spacecraft per launch, allowing Arianespace to deliver the larger part of the OneWeb constellation over a period of 18 months, starting in 2018.

OneWeb signed a launch contract with Arianespace in June 2015 for 21 Soyuz launches, along with options for five additional Soyuz launches and three Ariane 6 launches. The company also signed 39 launches, with options for 100 more, to Virgin Galactic using LauncherOne, which is scheduled to start test missions in 2017, preceding orbital missions in 2018.