ISRO To Launch 36 OneWeb Satellites Onboard Its Heaviest Launcher LVM3 Later This Month

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch 36 satellites of Bharti Airtel-backed OneWeb onboard its heaviest launcher LVM3 this month.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the ISRO, had signed two launch service contracts with OneWeb for launching of the UK-based firm's low-earth orbit (LEO) broadband communication satellites.

In a statement, ISRO said that the launch will be the first LVM3 dedicated commercial launch on demand through NSIL.

With this launch, the LVM3 will be making its entry into the global commercial launch service market.

The launch is part of OneWeb's plan to implement a constellation of LEO satellites.

As part of the contract, 36 satellites will be placed into orbit by one LVM3, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

"Two solid strap-on boosters and a liquid core stage of LVM3 have been fully integrated at the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR," ISRO said.

The space agency has also completed the successful integration of all 36 satellites with the dispenser unit.

"In the coming days, the integration of the cryogenic upper stage of the launch vehicle and the integration of payload fairing with 36 satellites will take place," the space agency said.

"Based on the success-oriented schedule for the remaining activities, the launch is nominally envisaged during the 3rd / 4th week of October 2022," it added.