LVM3 M2 / OneWeb India-1 Mission

In News

• Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) heaviest rocket Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3 or GSLV Mark 3) has successfully orbited 36 satellites of U.K.-based One Web. 
  • The launch is also the first for LVM3-M2 to place the satellites in the Low Earth Orbit (up to 1,200 km above the earth) unlike Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).  

About LVM3-M2/One Web India-1 

• LVM3-M2 is the dedicated commercial satellite mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
  • It is a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Department of Space, Government of India.
• Specifications:
  • 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.
  • The 43.5 metre LVM3 weighing around 644 tonnes carried 36 satellites weighing 5,796 kg or about 5.7 tonnes.  
  • With this launch, LVM3 has made its entry into the global commercial launch service market. 
• Significance:
  • The mission will enable the company to start offering satellite broadband services in the country by 2023.
  • provide high-speed internet services in remote areas, where terrestrial networks cannot be set up — middle of the ocean, the Himalayas (even on top of Mount Everest).

What is OneWeb?  

• It is a joint venture between India’s Bharti Enterprises and the U.K. government.
• This is OneWeb’s 14th launch, bringing the constellation to 462 satellites.
  • This launch represents more than 70% of its planned 648 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity worldwide.

• With only four more launches to go, OneWeb remains on track to activate global coverage in 2023, while its connectivity solutions are already live in regions north of 50 degrees latitude.

• OneWeb Satellites Connectivity:

Source: TH