New Delhi: Indian space agency ISRO has made a big announcement regarding the rocket GSLV Mk3. ISRO is going to launch the first commercial flight of its heaviest rocket. In this sequence, ISRO is ready to launch 36 satellites along with satellite communication company OneWeb from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 7 am on 23 October. With its launch, GSLV MK3 will enter the global commercial launch service market.
In a tweet, ISRO said that the launch time of the LVM3 – M2 / OneWeb India-1 mission is 23 October 2022 at 7 am. The Cryo Stage Equipment Bay (EB) assembly has been completed. The satellites are encapsulated and assembled in the vehicle. The final vehicle check is in progress.
ISRO is conducting this launch as part of a contract between NewSpace India Limited (the commercial arm of ISRO) and UK-based low earth orbit satellite communications company OneWeb. The space agency has also opened a viewing gallery for the public to watch the launch. This is being done for the first time after the Corona epidemic that people have got a chance to see the launch.
India’s heaviest rocket launch was purchased by the United Kingdom-based network Access Associated Limited through New Space India Limited. Bharti Group is a group of satellites in orbit on the earth to provide supported OneWeb broadband services. This is the first time that India’s heaviest rocket is being used for commercial launch.
Also, this will be the first time that a rocket other than India’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is being used for a commercial launch. India currently has three operational launch vehicles – PSLV, GSLV, and GSLV Mk 3. The space agency has also developed a small satellite launch vehicle, whose maiden flight earlier this year was partially successful.
