Bharti backed OneWeb, likely to launch satellite constellation through ISRO platforms in 2022
- Karthik Naren
- Apr 21, 2022
- 2 min read
A historic contract with NewSpace India Limited includes launches of OneWeb satellites from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, with the first anticipated for later in 2022.
April 21, 2022/ OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, announced April 20, that the company and NewSpace India Limited(NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization-ISRO, have entered into an agreement that will help ensure OneWeb completes its satellite launch program.
The first launch with New Space India is anticipated in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. The launches will add to OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation of 428 out of 648 satellites, -- Previously launched on Russia's Soyuz 2.1b from European and Russian Spaceports in 13 missions -- 66% percent of the planned total fleet, to build a global network that will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity.
Further OneWeb launch missions shares between SpaceX and NSIL.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Bharti and OneWeb Executive Chairman, said: This is yet another historic day for collaboration in space, thanks to the shared ambition and vision of New Space India and OneWeb. This most recent agreement on launch plans adds considerable momentum to the development of OneWeb’s network, as we work together across the space industry toward our common goal of connecting communities globally.
Mr. Mittal added that it was time for the private sector now to take advantage and ensure that India remained on the cutting edge of the space industry.
“New technologies, R&D where billions of dollars are being spent, are upending old technologies. It is... time for us to move. In the next three to five years, the space industry will dramatically alter,” Mr. Mittal said.
He added that OneWeb had entered into an arrangement through Letter of Intent with NewSpace India Ltd. the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), to use PSLV and the GSLV-MkIII as potential platforms to launch OneWeb’s satellites in India from 2022. The Company says the terms of the agreement with New Space India are confidential.
Comments