Chennai, Mar 24 (UNI) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

is gearing up for the launch of LVM-M3/OneWeb India-2 Mission from the

spaceport of Sriharikota, SHAR Range, on March 26.

With a lift-off mass of 643 tonnes, the 43.5 m tall LVM3, the heavylift

launcher of ISRO, with a successful track record of five successful

launches so far, including the Chandrayaan-2 mission, and carrying

36 satellites of the UK-based OneWeb, will lift from the Second Launch

Pad at 9.00 A.M.on Sunday.

The 36 satellites totally weighs about 5,805 kg.

The countdown for the launch will commence tomorrow, during which

propellant filling operations will be carried out in the three-stage vehicle,

with the upper third stage loaded with cryogenic (C25) engine.

Abou 20 minutes (1180 secs) after lift-off and after the ignition and burn

out of all the three stages, the 36 satellites will be placed in the LEO at

an altitude of 455.538 km.

ISRO said the current mission, LVM3-M3, is the second dedicated

commercial satellite mission being undertaken by NewSpace India

Limited (NSIL) for its customer M/s.Network Access Associates Ltd

(M/s.OneWeb), UK.

"As part of this commercial arrangement, 36 OneWeb Gen-1 satellites

would be launched into 450 km circular Low Earth Orbit (Osculating)

with an inclination of 87.4 Deg to the equator.

LVM-3 is the new name for ISRO's heaviest rocket launch vehicle

GSLVMK-III which has the capacity to launch heaviest sattelites in

the orbit.