There are significant improvements planned for the Baikonur launch facility (in Kazakhstan, but controlled by Russia) ahead of the planned series of launches for the ‘mega-constellation’ of OneWeb satellites.

Russian news agency Sputnik reports that floors in the main assembly hall and testing facility are being replaced in order to limit dust and improve air quality. the facility’s ventilation system and electricity are being examined by the specialists, according to the source.

The report also confirms that OneWeb’s Baikonur launches will only take place “six months after a qualification launch” of the first of OneWeb’s satellites – expected from French Guiana in mid-February 2019.

OneWeb’s initial plans call for some 900 satellites to be orbited to provide a global broadband service from satellite.

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