OneWeb satellite constellation

Why in news?

• Bharti Global and U.K. government-led OneWeb on Friday announced the launch of 36 communications satellites and said it aims to offer high-speed internet from its constellation of satellites in India by mid-2022.

About the constellation:

• The OneWeb satellite constellation (formerly WorldVu) is a planned initial 648-satellite constellation that was in the process of being completed in 2019–2020.
•  It is being created with a goal to provide global satellite Internet broadband services to people everywhere, initially aiming to start global services in 2021.
• The constellation was being deployed by OneWeb, formerly known as WorldVu Satellites.
• The new launch takes the total in-orbit constellation to 110 satellites, part of OneWeb’s 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity.
• Planned global services will start with the United Kingdom, Alaska, Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic Seas, and Canada in late 2021 and with global services in 2022.

Low Earth Orbits:

• A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an Earth-centred orbit with an altitude of 2,000 km or less (approximately one-third of the radius of Earth), with an orbital period of 128 minutes or less and an eccentricity less than 0.25.
• Most of the artificial objects including all crewed space stations to date, as well as the majority of satellites, have been in LEO.
• Satellites in LEO have a small momentary field of view, only able to observe and communicate with a fraction of the Earth at a time, meaning a network (or "constellation") of satellites is required to in order to provide continuous coverage.
• However, a low Earth orbit requires the lowest amount of energy for satellite placement and provides high bandwidth and low communication latency.
• Earth observation satellites, spy satellites, Iridium satellites used for satellite phone communication.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements 
1.Polar orbits are a type of Low earth orbits (LEOs).
2.“Loon” is a project to deliver internet using LEO satellites.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only 
(b)2 only 
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question