The O3b satellite constellation, developed by Thales Alenia Space, is going to offer Internet access with fast speed, low price and low latency to the ermerged market countries like Asia, Africa, Latin America, Australia and the Middle East. There are both 12 controllable antennas and Ka-band transponders for every satellite. And from Sep.1, O3b Networks began whole commercial service.

After four months from an orbital injection anomaly happened to the previous Soyuz mission, the resumption of Soyuz launches is marked by this launch from the Guiana Space Center. The European independent Inquiry Board and the Russian Inquiry Board submitted the cause summary of this anomaly together. The European independent Inquiry Board named by Arianespace and the Russian Inquiry Board named by Russian space agency Roscosmos both published a series of recommendations, which were carried out based on Arianespace.