CHENNAI, Oct 6:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the launch of 36 satellite of the UK-based One Web using its heaviest rocket GSLV-MkIII from the spaceport of Sriharikota, SHAR Range, during the third or fourth week of this month.
This would be an exclusive dedicated commercial mission by the Indian Space Agency.
ISRO in a Mission update on Thursday said integration of the three stage rocket, powered by solid, liquid and cryogenic engines, was being readied for the launch.
Two solid strap-on boosters and a liquid core stage of LVM3 have been fully integrated at the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR.
Integration of 36 OneWeb satellites after successful completion of health checks have been assembled with the dispenser unit.
In the coming days, the integration of the cryogenic upper stage of the launch vehicle and the integration of payload fairing with 36 satellites will take place.
“Based on the success-oriented schedule for the remaining activities, the launch is nominally envisaged during the 3rd/4th week of October”, ISRO said.
The NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a CPSE under the Department of Space and the commercial arm of ISRO, has signed two launch service contracts with M/s Network Access Associated Limited (M/s OneWeb), United Kingdom, for launching OneWeb LEO Broadband Communication Satellites on-board ISRO’s heaviest launcher LVM3.
It is first LVM3 dedicated commercial launch on demand through NSIL. This contract with M/s OneWeb is a historic milestone for NSIL and ISRO, as LVM3, is making its entry into the global commercial launch service market.
OneWeb is a global communications network, powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities. It is implementing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites.
India’s Bharti serves as a major investor and shareholder in OneWeb.
As part of the Contract, 36 satellites will be placed into orbit by one LVM3, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
All the 36 satellites had arrived at the spaceport of Sriharikota on last month.
With this launch, OneWeb will have more than 70% of its planned Gen-1 Low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation in orbit as it progresses to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity services around the world.
OneWeb has partnered with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO to facilitate this launch, which will be the company’s 14th overall and the satellites will be put into orbit by the heaviest ISRO rocket, the GSLV-MkIII, from the SDSC.
One additional launch will take place this year and three more are targeted for early next year to complete the constellation.
With a vision to deliver transformative connectivity around the world, the upcoming launch will be a pivotal moment for OneWeb, demonstrating tremendous momentum and progress towards delivering global coverage next year.
OneWeb resumes its launch programme with leading partners in the Satcom industry and the company’s services are already available in Alaska, Canada, UK, and the Arctic region.
India’s Bharti Enterprises, a major investor and shareholder in OneWeb, this year announced a distribution partnership with Hughes Communications India Private Ltd. (HCIPL).
OneWeb will connect towns, villages, and local and regional municipalities in the hardest-to-reach areas, thus playing a critical role in bridging the digital divide across India.
The mission has several firsts and with a total payload mass of about six tonnes.
Though ISRO had tasted repeated success using its versatile, reliable and workhorse launch vehicle PSLV having placed nearly 350 satellites belonging to more than 30 countries in the orbit, it is eyeing for more share in the commercial satellite launch market using the three stage GSLV rocket which has a lift off mass of 640 tons.
This will be GSLV-MKIII’s first dedicated commercial launch and it would carry a payload of about six ton, which will be another first.
This will be for the first time an Indian launch vehicle will be launching OneWeb’s satellites and this will also be the first commercial launch of GSLV-MkIII contracted by NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of Indian space sector.
This will also be for the first time GSLV-MkIII, designed to launch four ton class satellites in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), is being used for placing satellites in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The rocket can carry a payload of up to ten tons for placing satellites in LEO.
After the next month’s mission, another set of 36 satellites from OneWeb will be launched around January neat year. “One additional launch will take place this year and three more are targeted for early next year to complete the constellation,” OneWeb said. (UNI)
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