July 10th launch date set for Arianespace’s Soyuz mission with O3b Networks’ second satellite cluster
Arianespace’s next Soyuz flight from the Spaceport in French Guiana – which will loft four O3b Networks satellites to bring connectivity to the “other three billion” people in emerging markets – is now scheduled for July 10.
Liftoff of the Soyuz ST-B launcher is planned for 3:55:56 p.m. local time in French Guiana.
Designated Soyuz Flight VS08 in the company’s numbering system, this is the eighth launch of Arianespace’s medium-lift vehicle from French Guiana and Soyuz’ second mission for O3b Networks – following a June 2013 launch of the company’s first four satellites.
Launched into a circular orbit at an altitude of 7,830 km., O3b Networks’ second cluster of satellites will join its space-based constellation to deliver low-cost, high-speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity services over Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and the Middle East.