Solidifying its place in the world’s commercial satellite space, ISRO was successful in launching and placing 36 OneWeb satellites into their orbits. The effort utilized the agency’s biggest and heaviest rocket.
ISRO places 36 OneWeb satellites in place
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed the launching of 36 OneWeb satellites after midnight on Sunday. The satellites are owned by a London-based communications firm. India’s Bharti Enterprises is a major shareholder of OneWeb.
“It’s a historic mission…It has been possible because of PM Modi’s support as he wanted LVM3 to come into the commercial market, with NSIL in the forefront, to operationalize our launch vehicles for exploring and expanding the commercial domain,” stated S. Somnath, the ISRO chairman.
The satellites were launched on ISRO’s LMV3, its biggest and heaviest rocket. Produced by the Indian Space Agency, the rocket is also capable of launching satellites weighing up to four tonnes or as heavy as a huge flatbed truck. After 19 minutes of the launch, the rocket placed the broadband communication satellites in low earth orbit (LEO).
India’s venture into the commercial satellite market
In June 2017, the space agency launched 31 small satellites. Moreover, most of them belong to European nations. The effort is shaping its path to becoming a low-cost space services provider. India is credited for launching an orbiter to Mars in 2014 with $74 million compared to NASA’s $671 million spending on the MAVEN Mars mission.
Additionally, the effort is India’s first commercial satellite launch on the LVM3. NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL), the Indian Central government-owned corporation signed the agreement with OneWorld. “Another set of 36 OneWeb satellites will also be launched by the LVM3 in the first half of next year,” stated NSIL. Moreover, until the beginning of this year, Roscosmos, the Russian space agency was launching OneWeb satellites into space.