New Space India Limited and OneWeb signed for satellite launches

One Web, a Bharti group company, and New Space India Limited, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation, have signed a satellite launch deal. The Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, is expected to launch New Space in 2022.

Key Points:

• OneWeb’s whole in-orbit constellation of 428 satellites, or 66% of the intended total fleet, will be added to the global network to enable high-speed, low-latency connectivity.
• This launch contract follows a separate agreement announced in March 2022 between OneWeb and SpaceX to allow the firm to resume satellite launches.
• As demand for OneWeb’s broadband connectivity services continues to rise from a variety of sectors and markets, the firm has already activated service with its network above the 50th parallel and above.
• The upcoming launches will add to OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation of 428 satellites, accounting for 66% of the planned total fleet, in order to build a global network that will deliver high-speed, low-latency satellite broadband services to rural and remote areas around the world, including India.
• OneWeb is launching a global fleet of 648 low-earth-orbit satellites.

Important Takeaways:

• NSIL CMD Radhakrishnan Durairaj
• NSIL Director, Technical & Strategy: Arunachalam
• ISRO Chairman: Sreedhara Panicker Somanath