Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has renamed the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark -III as Launch Vehicle Mark-III, mainly to identify its task of placing satellites into a variety of orbits.

• Recently, LVM3 was used to put 36 OneWeb satellites into orbit and will also be used for a similar mission next year.

About LMV 3

• Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) is the culmination of more than three decades of efforts to indigenously develop a rocket that can carry heavier payloads, or venture much deeper into space.

• The LVM3-M2 mission is a dedicated commercial mission for a foreign customer OneWeb, through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).

• It is the first multi-satellite mission with 36 OneWeb Satellites to the LEO as the heaviest Payload mass of 5,796 kg. of LVM3 till date.

• This newest rocket is capable of launching 4,000-kilogram class of satellites into GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit) and 8,000 kgs of payloads into LEO.

• It is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons on its sides and core stage comprising L110 liquid stage and C25 cryogenic stage.

Features

• First Commercial Mission of LVM3

• First launch of LVM3 to LEO

• First Indian rocket with six-ton payload

• First NSIL Mission with LVM3

• First OneWeb Mission with NSIL/Department of Space.

About OneWeb

• OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses and communities. It is implementing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites. 

• India’s Bharti Enterprises serves as a major investor and shareholder in OneWeb.