PM Modi congratulates ISRO on successful launch of broadband satellite

“Congratulations @NSIL_India @INSPACeIND @ISRO on the successful launch of our heaviest launch vehicle LVM3 with 36 OneWeb satellites for global connectivity. LVM3 exemplifies Atmanirbharta and strengthens India’s competitive advantage in the global launch services market business,” the prime minister tweeted.

OneWeb Ltd. is a space-driven global communications network providing Internet access for businesses and governments. It is a UK customer of NSIL, the trading arm of ISRO.

The mission marks the first foray of the Mark III (LMV3) launch vehicle into commercial space markets. It was also the first time that one of India’s rockets carried a 6-tonne payload in the space market. The payload weight of the 36 satellites was 5.8 tons, the heaviest payload for the space agency to date.

ISRO President S. Somnath announced that the same launch will carry another 36 OneWeb satellites on its next LMV-M3 launch.

This part of UK-based Network Access Associated Limited’s plans aims to create a powerful constellation of 588 satellites to provide high-speed, low-latency global connectivity. These satellites will be placed in 12 rings of 49 satellites each, with each satellite making a complete revolution around the earth in 109 minutes. This was OneWeb’s fourteenth launch, bringing the fleet to 464 satellites to date. The constellation is expected to be completed by next year.

OneWeb is the UK-based customer of NSIL, the commercial arm of ISRO, and a global communications network powered from space, enabling Internet connectivity for governments and businesses.

Bharti Enterprises is one of the main investors in OneWeb.