The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is eying a bigger share in the global satellite launch market after successfully placing 36 OneWeb satellites in orbit on board the launch vehicle mark-III (LVM-3) rocket. With the LVM-3 rocket, capable of placing 10 tonne payloads in low earth orbits, ISRO now aims to launch heavier satellites or multiple smaller satellites.
According to S Somanath, chairman, ISRO, the next LVM-3 will be ready by February 2023, when the organisation plans to carry out another launch for OneWeb. ISRO wants to do one launch of LVM-3 every three to four months depending on the commercial demand.
ISRO also plans to carry out a test launch of the small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) later this year. The maiden SSLV launch in August 2022 was unsuccessful. The SSLV is designed to carry a payload of up to 500 kg to low earth orbit. Moreover, the organisation is now getting ready for a launch of polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) rocket, possibly November-end, where PSLV will be carrying ‘OceanSat’, ‘BhutanSat’ and four customer satellites on board.
According to a recent report by the Indian Space Association (ISpA) and Ernst and Young (E&Y), the global space economy is pegged at $447 billion with the satellite launch segment accounting for $6 billion. India’s share in the launch services segment was pegged at $600 million in 2020 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13 per cent to reach $1 billion by 2025.
