Rocket Lab has been selected by Airbus Constellation Satellites to supply high-efficiency, space-grade solar panels for 100 OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, developed for Eutelsat Group. The OneWeb satellites aim to deliver high-speed, low-latency global internet access, particularly to remote and underserved regions.
Under the agreement, Rocket Lab will produce 200 solar panels, including carbon composite panel substrates, solar cells and photovoltaic assemblies. These will be manufactured at Rocket Lab’s state-of-the-art 150,000-sqft space solar production facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The solar panels will generate approximately 80 kW of power for the LEO constellation—enough to power 16 Hubble-sized space telescopes.
Brad Clevenger, Vice President of Space Systems at Rocket Lab, said: “We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Airbus by providing our world-leading space solar panels to power Eutelsat’s next-gen OneWeb constellation. This collaboration will see 100 more satellites equipped with Rocket Lab technology, ensuring dependable, cutting-edge solutions that advance global connectivity.”
Rocket Lab previously supplied over 450 solar array panel shipsets to Airbus in 2021 for the first-generation OneWeb satellite fleet. Airbus is now set to build the initial batch of the next-generation 100 satellites, with deliveries expected in 2026.
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