The 14th OneWeb Mission will be launching from Shriharikota on Diwali Festival eve.
The Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) heaviest carrier rocket; LVM3 number M2, will launch thirty-six broadband satellites from British start-up OneWeb from the second launch pad in Sriharikota spaceport on India's east coast. The launch is scheduled for October 22, 2022 at 18:37 UTC (October 23 at 0007 IST). The OneWeb satellites will be placed in an orbit inclined at 86.4° to the equator. The 640-ton rocket will take off pointing to a launch azimuth of 176.3°, then perform a 'dog-legged' maneuver to the south and assume the desired tilt to avoid flying over Sri Lankan airspace.
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a company under the Space Department and the commercial arm of ISRO has signed two launch service contracts with M/s Network Access Associated Limited (OneWeb India Communications Ltd.), for the launch of the broadband communication satellites aboard the LVM3 launcher (also called GSLV-Mk3). It is the first commercial release of LVM3 on demand through NSIL. This agreement with OneWeb is a historic milestone for NSIL and ISRO as the heavy Bahubali (“Stronger Boy”) rocket is entering the global market for commercial launch services. OneWeb is a global communications network from space, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities, and is deploying a constellation of low earth orbit satellites. India's Bharti firm acts as a major investor and shareholder in OneWeb.
"Any new launcher entering a commercial market is historic and important," NSIL chairman-and-managing director (CMD) Radhakrishnan D told TOI. The customer's trust in this launcher is remarkable, and it is something we can be proud of the mission, according to NSIL, will set the tone for future commercialization of the GSLV-Mk3 as well as other options that India already provides to customers. "Globally, there are multiple plans afoot for LEO (low Earth Orbit) constellations of satellites, and there will be a requirement for launchers that can place multiple satellites, say 30-40, in each launch.
Such demand will be ongoing because such satellites have a lifespan of about five to seven years, requiring replacements as well as replacement with new-generation satellites. And, given its lift capacity, the GSLV-Mk3 will be ideal for such missions," Radhakrishnan said. While the OneWeb mission will carry 36 satellites weighing approximately 150kg each — totaling approximately 5,400kg — the GSLV-Mk3 can carry up to 40 or 42 satellites, or 6,000kg to 6,300kg to LEO in a single launch, depending on the mission specification. The rocket can transport up to 8,000kg to a nominal LEO orbit.
"We can carry 8,000kg or so if we go for a lower orbit and a 50-degree or 60-degree Inclination angle," Radhakrishnan explained. Furthermore, a dedicated mission of this magnitude and complexity is difficult to implement due to numerous new interfaces and systems that pose challenges, as opposed to follow-up missions where we are familiar with systems.
“The fact that we have been able to turn things around so quickly — we signed the agreement sometime in April-May, and we are already launching — is commendable.
This is the quickest turnaround time for a GSLV-Mk3," Radhakrishnan added.
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