The Russian space agency Roscosmos today suspended the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket that was scheduled to place British OneWeb satellites into orbit, citing the United Kingdom’s sanctions against Russia in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to photos released by Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, a Soyuz rocket carrying 36 OneWeb satellites was lifted onto a launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Wednesday.
❗ Прямая трансляция с космодрома Байконур
— РОСКОСМОС (@roscosmos) March 4, 2022
Снятие ракеты-носителя «Союз-2.1б» с космическими аппаратами OneWeb со стартового комплекса площадки № 31 и её транспортирование в монтажно-испытательный корпус. https://t.co/UvoKLKAHSx
According to Interfax reporting, Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin stated on Wednesday that his agency wanted OneWeb to guarantee that its satellites would not be used against Russia.
Without these, Rogozin warned Russia will postpone Friday’s planned launch from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur cosmodrome without compensating OneWeb, according to the Russian news agency.
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