ISRO Launches India's largest LVM3 Rocket With 36 Satellites

On March 26, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced that the LVM3-M3/OneWeb India-2 mission had been accomplished, with all 36 satellites deployed into their assigned orbits. The Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, launched the mission.

Network Access Associates Ltd (OneWeb Group Company) in the United Kingdom has agreed to launch 72 satellites into Low-Earth orbit (LEO) with ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Ltd. ISRO deployed 36 OneWeb satellites on October 23, 2022. It was the two organizations' first satellite deployment collaboration.

Following the launch, OneWeb tweeted,  “We have lift off! Thanks to our colleagues at ISRO and NSIL India for a successful launch."

On October 23, 2022, the first set of 36 satellites for OneWeb Group was launched.

After a 24.5-hour countdown, the 43.5-meter-tall rocket took off at 9 a.m. from the second launch site, roughly 135 kilometres from Chennai.

OneWeb is a worldwide communication network powered by space that links governments as well as businesses.

Bharti Enterprises is a significant investor in the OneWeb company, which is working on the deployment of a low-earth satellite constellation.

ISRO stated in a statement issued on Saturday,  "LVM3-M3/OneWeb India-2 mission. The countdown has commenced."

According to OneWeb, the launch on Sunday would be the 18th and third of the year, completing the first generation of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) constellation.

This is ISRO's second launch in 2023, following the successful launch of the SSLV-D2/EOS07 mission in February.

According to OneWeb, "17 launches completed. One pivotal launch remains - OneWeb Launch 18. As we launch another 36 satellites with our colleagues at ISRO and NewSpace India Ltd this weekend (March 26), we will reach 616 satellites in-orbit more than enough satellites to launch global services later this year."

The mission, according to the firm, will be one of the "most significant milestones" in OneWeb's history, as it will add 36 satellites to the OneWeb fleet and complete the world's first global LEO constellation.

The Indian space agency stated that "OneWeb will soon be ready to roll out its global coverage"

The launch vehicle mission, according to ISRO, would place 36 first-generation satellites weighing 5,805 kgs into a 450 km circular orbit with an inclination of roughly 87.4 degrees.

This is the sixth flight of the LVM3, formerly known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle MkIII (GSLVMkIII). It has five missions in a row, including the Chandrayaan-2.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh praised ISRO for the successful launch on Sunday."Proud to be associated with the department of space #ISRO at a time when India under PM @NarendraModi has emerged as the frontline Space Tech nation of the world," he tweeted. "Team ISRO adds yet another feather to its much-decorated hat. Successful launch of LVM3-M3/OneWeb India-2 MIssion", according to the Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology.

Anand Mahindra, too, applauded, saying, “Whoaaa! That is one BIG rocket… Lifts my heart up with it to the skies. Bravo, yet again #ISRO (LVM3-M3/Oneweb India-2 Mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre"