ISRO's Latest Mission Brings High-Speed Internet Closer to Reality

ISRO has launched 36 OneWeb satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a successful mission.

ISRO's Latest Mission Brings High-Speed Internet Closer to Reality

WA Tech: On Sunday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched 36 OneWeb satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a textbook mission. The spacecraft lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, using the LVM-III rocket, which is a redesignation of India's Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle Mark-III.

The OneWeb constellation is a network of satellites designed to provide broadband connectivity across the globe. The constellation is being implemented by the UK-based company, OneWeb, with India's Bharti Enterprises serving as a major investor and shareholder. The 150-kilogram satellites were deployed in 12 planes, with each plane separated by four kilometers in altitude to prevent any inter-plane collisions.

The LVM-III rocket's three stages performed nominally, taking the spacecraft to its designated orbit. The mission lasted 75 minutes, one of the longest for the spacecraft. This was the second major mission for ISRO in 2023, following the successful launch of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) earlier in the year.

The deployment of the OneWeb satellites began after reaching an altitude of over 400 kilometers above Earth. The 36 satellites were deployed in five stages on their respective orbital planes after the shutdown of the cryo stage, as ISRO declared "mission accomplished."

The successful launch of the OneWeb satellites brings global broadband connectivity closer to reality, and it is a significant milestone for the Indian space agency. ISRO's partnership with OneWeb and Bharti Enterprises demonstrates the agency's commitment to supporting the country's digital connectivity goals.

In conclusion, the successful launch of the OneWeb satellites by ISRO is a significant achievement for the Indian space agency, OneWeb, and Bharti Enterprises. The deployment of the satellites brings the world a step closer to achieving global broadband connectivity, and it reinforces India's position as a major player in the space industry.