OneWeb satellite launch will mark many firsts : Can ISRO pip Roscosmos?

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch a constellation of satellites aboard its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-Mk III rocket in the coming weeks. OneWeb, the UK-based satellite operator, had announced earlier this year that it would put some of its remaining satellites that would complete part of its global communication constellation into orbit with the help of ISRO.

OneWeb is a joint venture between India Bharti Global and the UK government. A batch of 36 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites was seized by the Russian space agency Roscosmos which refused to launch them unless a number of Moscow’s demands were met.

This prompted OneWeb’s search for an alternative. Earlier this year, it has launched another batch of satellites with the US-based SpaceX. Now, it zeroed down on India to send 36 more to space. With this launch, it will complete 70% of its intended constellation of 648 satellites. OneWeb said in a statement that the launch with Isro will be the company’s 14^th.

Following this, OneWeb will conduct another launch by end of 2022 and three more launches next year.

India enters the race

When space cooperation between the west and Russia broke down, the European space agency confirmed that it was looking at India too as a partner for future launches, according to Reuters.

Russia's Soyuz launch vehicle was critical for space missions including sending satellites and astronauts to space. The alternative that many planned missions are looking at is SpaceX which has been on a winning streak, sweeping up contracts abandoned by Russia.

However, India too is a competitive option even though its share in the $360 billion global space market is negligible.

ISRO has had a good success rate with the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and is still working on the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) which failed to deliver satellites to the correct orbit on its maiden mission. However, ISRO said that the launch was smooth and the mission had proved all the systems were working. Few more tests could put the SSLV also in the market for services.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II) is one of the largest launch vehicles develop by India and it has achieved many consecutive successes since January 2014, as per the ISRO website.

As the world turns to India as a potential alternative, industry experts say that India should cash in on the opportunity by augmenting its satellite launch capabilities.

Chaitanya Giri, Founder, DAWON Advisory Intelligence, told IANS, “All those countries feeling the pinch due to the absence of Russian rockets for satellite launches may look at alternatives. While the bulk of the satellite launch contracts will be taken by the US and Europe, there will be others who may look at other options. India's neutrality has created a new market segment.”

Many firsts for ISRO

There are many firsts coming up for the Indian space sector in the coming weeks with the OneWeb satellite launch.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV Mk-III) is India’s most powerful launcher to date. It carried the Chandrayaan 2 mission to its designated orbit, (is also qualified for human spaceflight) and now, it is preparing for its first commercial flight. The launch was contracted by NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of Indian space sector. The GSLV Mk III or its variants is being used for the first time to deliver satellites in the low earth orbit.

This will also be the first time that an Indian rocket will be ferrying a payload of about six tons.

And last but not the least, it is the first time that OneWeb is using an Indian rocket to put its satellites into orbit.