India’s largest rocket will launch into space on October 22
A short while after October 21 at midnight, the launch is scheduled. We are looking at 00:12 on October 22,” a top national space agency official told PTI on Thursday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
BENGALURU: On October 22, India’s heaviest rocket is set to achieve a major milestone by entering the world market for commercial launch services.
According to a deal inked by the commercial branch of the Indian Space Research Organization, NewSpace India Limited, the GSLV-Mk III would launch the 36 broadband satellites of the British startup OneWeb from Sriharikota spaceport in its first dedicated commercial mission (NSIL).
A four-ton class satellite can be launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit using the most recent rocket (GTO).
“A short while after October 21 at midnight, the launch is scheduled. We’re looking at October 22 at 00:12 “Under the condition of anonymity, a top official from the national space agency told PTI on Thursday.
It is a historic occasion for NSIL and ISRO to launch 36 OneWeb satellites from India on board the GSLV-Mk III, according to NSIL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Radhakrishnan D.
The three-stage GSLV-Mk III, also known as Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3), has two solid motor strap-on stages, a liquid propellant core stage, and a cryogenic stage. OneWeb’s largest shareholder and investor is Bharti Enterprises of India.
The deal with OneWeb, according to NSIL, a Central public sector organisation under the Department of Space, marks a historic turning point for NSIL and ISRO as LVM3 enters the market for international commercial launch services.
Two solid strap-on boosters and the liquid core stage of the LVM3 have been fully assembled at the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, in Sriharikota, according to a mission update from NSIL on October 4.
According to NSIL, 36 OneWeb (Low Earth Orbit broadband connectivity) satellites have been assembled with the dispenser unit following the satisfactory completion of health testing.
“The cryogenic upper stage of the launch vehicle and the attachment of the payload fairing with 36 satellites will take place during the next few days,” NSIL had noted.
