ISRO's Heaviest Rocket Successfully Places All 36 Satellites in Orbits, PM Modi Lauds Mission

In a big success, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today launched 36 satellites in its heaviest rocket, LVM3.

ISRO's heaviest rocket

ISRO's heaviest rocket blasted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday at 12:07 am to place 36 broadband communication satellites into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for a UK-based OneWeb.

The 43.5 metre LVM3 weighing around 644 tonne carried 36 satellites weighing 5,796 kg or about 5.7 tonne. With this launch, LVM3 has made its entry into the global commercial launch service market.

In a tweet in the wee hours of Sunday, ISRO said, ¡°LVM3 M2/OneWeb India-1 mission is completed successfully. All the 36 satellites have been placed into intended orbits".

LVM3 M2/OneWeb India-1 mission is completed successfully. All the 36 satellites have been placed into intended orbits. @NSIL_India @OneWeb

¡ª ISRO (@isro) October 22, 2022

Its significance

LVM3-M2 is the dedicated commercial satellite mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Department of Space, Government of India.

This mission is being undertaken as part of the commercial arrangement between NSIL and m/s Network Access Associates Limited (m/s OneWeb Ltd), a U.K. based company. OneWeb is a joint venture between India¡¯s Bharti Enterprises and the UK government.

The vehicle is also dubbed as one of the heaviest for its ability to carry satellites upto 8,000 kg. The mission assumes significance as this was LVM3¡¯s maiden commercial mission and also NSIL¡¯s first with the said launch vehicle.

Andhra Pradesh | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch 36 satellites in its heaviest rocket at 12:07 am, 23 October from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota pic.twitter.com/UazfMFlSB7

¡ª ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2022

ISRO Chairman on mission's success

ISRO chairman Dr S Somanath said that Diwali started a day early for the space agency with the successful launch of the rocket and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi¡¯s support for the mission¡¯s success. He also said that the Chandrayaan 3 is ¡°almost ready¡±.

¡°Congratulations to the entire launch vehicle team for grabbing the opportunity and making it ready today for the historic mission. I also want to thank the OneWeb team for having confidence in us to host the LVM3¡­we are very hopeful that the next mission of LVM3 will do the same to place the remaining 36 satellites it has been contracted by NSIL," he said.

PM hails rocket launch

PM Modi also extended greetings to ISRO on the success of the mission, ¡°Congratulations @NSIL_India @INSPACeIND @ISRO on the successful launch of our heaviest launch vehicle LVM3 with 36 OneWeb satellites meant for global connectivity. LVM3 exemplifies Atmanirbharta & enhances India¡¯s competitive edge in the global commercial launch service market," PM Modi said in a tweet.

Congratulations @NSIL_India @INSPACeIND @ISRO on the successful launch of our heaviest launch vehicle LVM3 with 36 OneWeb satellites meant for global connectivity. LVM3 exemplifies Atmanirbharta & enhances India¡¯s competitive edge in the global commercial launch service market.

¡ª Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 23, 2022

LVM3-M2 is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons on its sides and core stage comprising L110 liquid stage and C25 cryogenic stage. OneWeb Ltd is a global communication network powered from space, enabling internet connectivity for governments and businesses.

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