Isro injects 36 satellites into low earth orbit
Boost for ISRO’s human space mission: India’s space agency’s heavy lift rocket LVM3 successfully places 36 OneWeb satellites in orbit on Sunday morning
Sriharikota (AP): Indian heavy lift rocket LVM3 successfully placed the 36 satellites of UK-based Network Access Associates Ltd (OneWeb) in low earth orbit (LEO) on Sunday morning, the Indian space agency said. The 43.5-metre tall LVM3 rocket that weighed 643 ton carried 36 satellites, totalling 5,805 kg or about 5.8 ton, to the space.
The rocket blasted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 9am here and ascended towards the skies with thick orange flames at its tail. Just over 19 minutes into its flight, the LVM3 began to sling the 36 small broadband communication satellites in low earth orbit (LEO). The 36 satellites were slung in their intended orbit in a batch of four satellites.
“Our team will now continue to work through the morning to confirm contact with all our spacecraft,” OneWeb tweeted.
Speaking about the mission S Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary, Department of Space, said that the rocket has done extremely well and the space agency is looking forward to continuing its relationship with its commercial partners.”
