ISRO launches heaviest rocket LMV-3

Tags: Science and Technology National News

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 26 March successfully launched India’s largest Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) rocket/OneWeb India-2 Mission with 36 satellites onboard from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

An overview of the news

• The LVM-III will deploy 36 satellites of the UK-based Network Access Associated Ltd (OneWeb) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). 

• The OneWeb Group Company has inked a contract with ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Ltd to launch 72 satellites into LEO. 

• The first satellite deployment collaboration between the two organisations took place in October 2022 with ISRO launching 36 satellites of OneWeb. 

• In the second mission on 26 March, the remaining 36 satellites, each weighing approximately 5805 kg, were placed into a circular low Earth orbit of 450 km by the LVM3 M3 launch vehicle.

• LVM3 had five consecutive successful missions including the Chandrayaan 2 mission.

About OneWeb

• OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments and businesses.

• Bharti Enterprises is a major investor in OneWeb group.

• After the SSLV-D2/EOS07 mission in February, the OneWeb India-2 Mission is ISRO’s second successful launch this year.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

• It was established on 15 August 1969.

• It is the national space agency of India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

• Headquarter: Bengaluru

• Chairman: S Somnath