French launch vehicle developer MaiaSpace has signed a multi-launch agreement with satellite operator Eutelsat to support the expansion of the OneWeb low Earth orbit broadband constellation, the company said on Jan. 15.
The agreement will see MaiaSpace conduct multiple launches to deploy OneWeb satellites into low Earth orbit and could represent the majority of Maia’s launch manifest during its first three years of commercial operations, according to the company.
MaiaSpace, founded in 2022 as a wholly owned subsidiary of ArianeGroup, is developing a two-stage, partially reusable rocket known as Maia. In its expendable configuration, with an optional kick stage, the vehicle is designed to carry payloads of up to 4,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit.
“This agreement with an experienced and renowned satellite operator confirms that Maia is well-suited for deploying or replenishing satellite broadband constellations,” said Yohann Leroy. He added that following recent decisions at the European Space Agency’s ministerial conference, MaiaSpace is positioning itself as both commercially competitive and strategically important for Europe’s independent access to space.
MaiaSpace is currently preparing for the inaugural flight of its Maia rocket from the Guiana Space Centre before the end of the year. The first mission is expected to be a suborbital demonstration flight using a reduced propellant load. Full commercial operations are planned to begin in 2027, with the company targeting a launch cadence of up to 20 missions per year by the start of the next decade.
The OneWeb satellites slated for launch on Maia will form part of a batch of 440 spacecraft being built by Airbus Defence and Space under an existing manufacturing contract. Deliveries of those satellites are expected to begin before the end of the year.
OneWeb operates a global broadband network designed to deliver low-latency internet services, particularly to remote and underserved regions. The agreement with MaiaSpace adds a new European launch option as operators seek diversified and resilient access to orbit amid growing demand for constellation deployment and replenishment.
