CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is preparing its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III (GSLV MkIII) rocket for the third or fourth week of this month to launch 36 satellites of OneWeb.

The liquid fuel-powered second stage has been attached to the two solid fuel fueled booster motors, according to ISRO, at the second launch pad at the rocket port in Sriharikota. A three-stage rocket, the GSLV MkIII uses liquid fuel for its second stage, solid fuel for its first stage, and a cryogenic engine for its third stage.

The 36 satellites have successfully through health tests and have been merged with the dispenser unit, according to ISRO.  After that, the cryogenic stage will be stacked on top of the second stage, and the 36 satellites' payload fairings or heat shields will be integrated, according to ISRO.

Network Access Associated Ltd. (OneWeb) and NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, have inked two contracts for the launch of the latter's broadband communication satellites into low earth orbit.

There are multiple firsts for the Indian space industry with the projected mission. They are: (a) the GSLV MkIII's first commercial launch; (b) the launch of an Indian rocket carrying a payload weighing about six tonnes for the first time. In order to launch its satellites into orbit, OneWeb is using an Indian rocket for the first time. Additionally, the NSIL, the commercial arm of the Indian space industry, launched the GSLV MkIII for the first time on a commercial basis (LEO). OneWeb plans to launch another 36-satellite batch in orbit in January 2023.

A further launch will occur this year, and three more are planned for the beginning of next year to complete the constellation, according to OneWeb. OneWeb, a partnership between the UK government and India Bharti Global.
The satellite provider intends to provide communication services using a constellation of 650 satellites in low earth orbit. A three stage rocket with a 640 tonne liftoff mass, the GSLV MkIII is propelled by solid, liquid, and cryogenic engines.

The rocket was made to launch about 10 tonnes to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and four tonnes of satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). OneWeb will supply high-speed, low-latency connection services all across the world once it completes this launch, putting more than 70% of its intended Gen 1 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation in orbit.

This year, Hughes Communications India Private Ltd. and Bharti Enterprises, a significant investor and stakeholder in OneWeb, formed a distribution relationship.

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