NB Explains | With the successful launch of 36 OneWeb satellites in orbit, ISRO establishes itself in commercial launches

Taking another major step in building its reputation as a global commercial rocket launch service provider, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India’s largest LVM3 rocket with 36 satellites onboard.

 

The LVM3 was carrying a total payload of 5,805 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and was launched at 09:00:20 hours (local time) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. With this launch, ISRO's LVM3-M3 has completed its sixth consecutive successful flight.

 

The OneWeb Group Company has inked a contract with ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Ltd to launch 72 satellites into LEO. The first set of 36 satellites was launched in LVM3-M2/OneWeb India-1 mission on October 23, 2022.

 

OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments and businesses.India's Bharti Enterprises is a major investor in OneWeb group, which is engaged in the implementation of the constellation of low earth satellites.

 

 

 

Just like Elon Musk's Starlink, OneWeb too provide services using constellation of satellites. The company has already started its internet from space services in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, UK and Northern Europe.

With today's mission, OneWeb would have 616 satellites in its fleet which would be more than enough to launch global services later this year.

 

“OneWeb’s high-speed, low-latency solutions will assist in connecting communities, businesses, and governments worldwide, demonstrating the unparalleled potential of LEO (low earth orbit) connectivity,” the company said in its press release, also stating it would help India’s “towns, villages, municipalities, and schools, including the hardest-to-reach areas across the country.”

 

It should be highlighted that with these launches, ISRO has not only established LVM3 as a commercial vehicle but it has also marked its entry into the commercial heavier launch market. The launches earned the agency upwards of Rs 1,000 crore.

 

Due to the commercialisation, ISRO’s commercial arm New Space India Limited's revenue has increased from Rs 1,731 crores in 2021-22 to a projected Rs 3,509 crores in 2023-24. To date, ISRO has launched 384 foreign satellites from at least 36 countries, with at least 10 dedicated commercial missions and several other Indian missions where they were carried as co-passenger satellites.