ISRO successfully launches rocket with 36 satellites, major achievement for India

SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched a rocket carrying 36 satellites to the satellite network deployed by Britain's One Web Network Access Associates for better broadband internet coverage around the world. GSLV This is the second commercial launch of the Mark Three (LVM Three) rocket. OneWeb's 36 satellites were launched on last October 23. The rocket was launched from Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota Sunday morning.

OneWeb currently has 582 satellites in orbit. It will have 618 with Sunday's launch. OneWeb envisages a massive network of 648 satellites in total. Other satellites were launched by various agencies such as SpaceX.

ISRO's commercial arm New Space India and OneWeb have signed an agreement to launch 72 satellites. ISRO's will be paid Rs 1000 cr for the launch.

India's gains

• Currently, the Internet reaches mobile phones and computers from satellites to towers and from them through relay centres
• The OneWeb network gets the Internet directly from the satellite to the computers. That's why there are so many satellites
• A huge array of satellites 600 km above the earth. India's Bharti Airtel also has a stake in OneWeb
• High-speed internet in all rural and remote areas of India. Digital innovations will also gain momentum

LVM - 3 Rocket
• GSLV was renamed as Launch Vehicle Mark 3
• It weighs 640-ton, 5 metre in diameter, and 43.5 metre length
• Solid and liquid fuel in the first two stages
• Cryogenic engine in the third stage
• Satellites weighing up to 10 tons will be launched
• 36 satellites weigh 5.805 tons