A rocket from India successfully placed 36 internet satellites into orbit

The mission was carried out as part of a business partnership between a government-owned company and a satellite company based in the United Kingdom

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After several months of delay as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, the Indian space agency has announced that its rocket has successfully put 36 internet satellites into orbit for the satellite company OneWeb, based in the United Kingdom.
Early on Sunday morning, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) made the announcement that the mission, which was a part of a commercial arrangement between a government-run company called New Space India Limited and another company called OneWeb, was successful.
ISRO Chairman Sreedhara Panicker Somanath announced, as liftoff occurred at 12:07am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh, that "This is the first-ever commercial launch of the new rocket LVM3 [Launch Vehicle Mark 3]."
The fourteenth deployment of OneWeb satellites utilised India's most powerful rocket, which is typically reserved for use with government spacecraft. In 2019, OneWeb successfully launched its first satellite.
It was OneWeb's first launch since the company severed ties with the Russian Space Agency in March due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, which prompted the breakup.
Despite the setback that occurred this year, the British company has stated that it is still on track to activate its planned constellation of 648 satellites in order to provide global coverage the following year. It already offers its services in the latitudes that are furthest to the north.
ISRO has stated on its website that the satellites will be placed in a circular orbit 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) in diameter and will be organised into 12 rings, with 49 satellites in each plane. According to the information provided, each satellite will finish one full trip around the heart every 109 minutes.
About 150 kilogrammes is the average weight of a OneWeb satellite (330 pounds).
The launch is significant for India and reflects the country's ongoing transition toward providing its space agency's services to private clients. According to statements made to the Associated Press by Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, a director at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi who specialises in space and security issues.
According to Rajagopalan, India has experience in launching smaller satellites, and the country has been attempting to corner this market by positioning itself as a satellite launch facility.
Because of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, many countries are avoiding using Russian launch services, which could present an opportunity for India. She stated that it has the potential to significantly advance that trend.