Rogozin orders preparations stop for launching OneWeb satellites

MOSCOW. March 4 (Interfax) - Roscosmos is stopping preparations for the launch of OneWeb satellites from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, as the British company has failed to guarantee their non-use for military purposes, Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin said.

"Preparations for the launch will stop, the rocket will be removed from the launch pad and taken back to the technical facility, and the satellites will be sent to the assembly and testing facility for mothballing," Rogozin said at a meeting of the commission on preparations for the launch of a Soyuz-2.1b rocket coupled with OneWeb satellites.

The reason is that "OneWeb has disobeyed our lawful demand to provide necessary information as to whether or not the system will be used for military purposes to the benefit of the Pentagon and military agencies of NATO member states," he said.