ISRO launches internet satellite a major step in bridging digital divide
Posted Date – Tuesday, 3/28/23 at 12:30pm
ISRO launches internet satellite a major step in bridging digital divide
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has added another feather to its embellished cap. The successful launch of the LVM3, the heaviest rocket carrying the 36 Internet satellites of UK-based OneWeb Group, has cemented ISRO’s reputation as a reliable player in the commercial satellite market. With the latest feat, India has launched a total of 422 foreign satellites since 1999. For OneWeb, a joint venture between India’s Bharti Global and the UK government, the latest mission is the most important milestone in its history as it constitutes the first major step forward in providing global internet coverage, including India. The satellites, now successfully in orbit, will provide space broadband services to communities, governments and businesses, in addition to serving distribution partners. The 43.5-meter-high LVM3 rocket has a lift capacity of 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 4 tons to Earth Transfer Orbit (GTO). LVM3 successfully performed five consecutive missions, including the Chandrayaan-2 mission. It is a three-stage rocket, the first stage uses liquid fuel, the two belts on the engine are driven by solid fuel, the second stage is powered by liquid fuel, and the third stage is a cryogenic motor. This is the second rocket launch by ISRO this year. The first batch of 36 satellites was launched last October. OneWeb plans to launch services in India later this year, subject to regulatory approvals, and has received a GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communications over Satellite Services) license from the Ministry of Telecommunications, as well as permission to establish an earth station.
The success of the commercial launch will make ISRO a leading service provider for companies trying to launch satellites. India has been working to increase its share of the global commercial space market since the country decided to open up its space sector to private companies in 2020. Although it is the world’s major aerospace power, it only has a 2% share of the global commercial spaceflight market. current commercial market. The government plans to increase this share to 10% by 2030 through commercial launches from ISRO and launches from private companies such as Skyroot and Agnikul, which are developing their own launch vehicles. Global experience shows that the power of connectivity benefits all people, no matter where they are located. ISRO’s launch of an internet satellite is an important step in bridging the digital divide. Currently, half of the world’s population does not have access to a fast, reliable connection. OneWeb’s global constellation will play a pivotal role in realizing this dream. The company intends to use 588 active satellites in its first-generation constellation to provide high-speed and low-latency global connectivity. With the commercial sector in mind, ISRO has also developed the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) with the aim of providing commercial on-demand launch services.
