'Country Proud Of Its Scientists': President Murmu Expresses Gratitude Over ISRO's OneWeb India-1 Mission

On its first commercial flight, the LVM3-M2 rocket from the ISRO successfully launched 36 broadband communication satellites for a UK-based client into the desired orbits on Sunday.

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday expressed the nation's pride in space scientists and extended her congratulations on the successful launch of broadband satellites.

Taking to Twitter, President Murmu said: "The team of @ISRO, @NSIL_India & @INSPACeIND achieved an impressive feat of successfully launching LVM3 with 36 satellites aimed at enhancing global connectivity. The country is proud of our scientists and their showcasing of the nation's indigenous capabilities. Congratulations!"

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched 36 OneWeb satellites at 12:07 am IST on October 23, 2022. The satellites were successfully placed into low-Earth orbit, as part of the OneWeb India-1 mission or LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark III) M2 mission. This marks the first commercial mission of LVM3, India’s heaviest launch vehicle, also known as Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mark III). The OneWeb satellites, meant for global connectivity needs, were launched from the Second Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. 

ISRO completed the first dedicated commercial mission for United Kingdom-based communications company OneWeb with New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO. 

The OneWeb India-1 mission marks the entry of LVM3 into the global commercial launch service market. 

OneWeb India-1 mission carried a payload mass of 5,796 kilograms, the heaviest for any ISRO mission to date. 

(With Inputs From Agencies)