SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Eutelsat OneWeb Launch 20 mission

On October 20, 2024, SpaceX launched the OneWeb Launch 20 mission via Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

OneWeb is a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group and provides broadband satellite internet services in low Earth orbit (LEO). These satellites cover remote and isolated areas that cannot use traditional ground-based broadband systems.

The company has confirmed that the latest payload carried 20 LEO OneWeb satellites. These will improve OneWeb’s satellite installation and connectivity.

Prior to flight, the launch director gave the team a go for the propellant load on the first and second stages. The weather remained favorable for this liftoff.

Following engine ignition, the rocket achieved Max Q in 60 seconds and hot-staging was conducted around 2:15 minutes. The first returned to the landing site and the second stage fired its engines to lead the mission into space.

At around 3 minutes the second stage deployed the payload fairings and conducted sequential burn to achieve the satellite deployment class. The satellite deployment will begin at around 1 hour in the mission time and all 20 satellites will be deployed in the set of two.

First stage

After separating from the second stage, the booster returned to the landing site at Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base for an autonomous landing.

This was the seventh flight for the booster, which previously supported USSF-62 and five Starlink missions.