ISRO's LVM3 launches 36 OneWeb satellites in sixth consecutive flight

Written by Copernical Team Monday, 27 March 2023 04:06

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Sriharikota, India (SPX) Mar 26, 2023

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched 36 satellites belonging to OneWeb Group Company into their intended 450 km circular orbit with an inclination of 87.4 degrees, using its LVM3 launch vehicle. This marked the sixth consecutive successful flight of the LVM3 and the successful execution of NSIL's contract to launch 72 OneWeb satellites to Low Earth Orbit. The

ISRO's LVM3 launches 36 OneWeb satellites in sixth consecutive flight
by Staff Writers
Sriharikota, India (SPX) Mar 26, 2023

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched 36 satellites belonging to OneWeb Group Company into their intended 450 km circular orbit with an inclination of 87.4 degrees, using its LVM3 launch vehicle. This marked the sixth consecutive successful flight of the LVM3 and the successful execution of NSIL's contract to launch 72 OneWeb satellites to Low Earth Orbit.

The vehicle took off at 09:00:20 local time from the second launch pad at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, with a total payload of 5,805 kg. It reached the required altitude in approximately nine minutes, achieved satellite injection conditions in the eighteenth minute, and began injecting the satellites in the twentieth minute.

The C25 stage of the launch vehicle carried out a sophisticated maneuver to orient itself in orthogonal directions and repeatedly inject the satellites into precise orbits with defined time-gaps to avoid collision. The 36 satellites were separated in nine phases in a batch of four. OneWeb confirmed that it had acquired signals from all 36 satellites.

This mission marked OneWeb's second satellite deployment from India, underscoring its strong partnership with NSIL and ISRO. It was also OneWeb's 18th launch, bringing the total of its constellation to 618 satellites.

Somanath S, the Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, congratulated ISRO, NSIL, and OneWeb on the successful mission. He expressed his happiness over the consecutive successful flight of LVM3 and the confidence that OneWeb has in ISRO. He thanked the government for supporting and approving the commercial launches that have boosted confidence in LVM3. He was pleased to mention that this mission used upgraded S200 motors with enhanced margins suitable for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, and the motors performed very well.

Radhakrishnan D, the Chairman and Managing Director of NewSpace India Limited, congratulated ISRO for its successful and repeatable performance. He called the event momentous and remembered the challenge of this complex mission in terms of maneuverability.