ISRO’s Heaviest Rocket LVM3 to launch 36 OneWeb satellites on Oct 23

Chennai: The Indian space agency will fly a rocket carrying 36 satellites of OneWeb in the early morning of October 23.

According to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), OneWeb’s Geosynchrounous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV MkIII) rocket launch with 36 satellites is scheduled for October 23 at 12:07 am.

It said that the freezing engine stage and equipment compartment assembly have been completed. The satellites are packed and assembled in the rocket and are undergoing final testing.

NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, has signed two contracts with Network Access Associated Ltd (OneWeb) to launch its broadband communications satellite into low earth orbit.

“The total launch mass will be six tons,” the official told IANS.

Another set of 36 satellites from OneWeb is scheduled to be put into orbit in January 2023.

OneWeb said: “One additional launch will take place this year and three more are targeted early next year to complete this constellation.

OneWeb is a joint venture between Bharti Global of India and the UK government.

The satellite company plans to have a constellation of 650 satellites in low earth orbit to provide communications services.