Pair of GLSV Mk III Launches Cost More than $120.9 Million

DNAIndia.com reports that OneWeb is paying more than Rs 1,000 crore (US $120.9 million) for a pair of GSLV Mk III launches that will carrying 72 of the company’s broadband satellites.

When asked how much his business would spend to have 72 satellites launched, OneWeb Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal told reporters in India that it would be more than Rs 1,000 crore…

“Nearly 10 per cent of OneWeb`s satellites will be launched by ISRO,” said Shravin Mittal, Managing Director, Bharti Global.

When asked whether talks are on to have ISRO provide its Gen2 satellites, Sunil Mittal confirmed that they are. As a potential replacement for some of its satellites in orbit, OneWeb will investigate the use of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

The first GSLV Mk III launch carrying 36 satellites was conducted early Sunday morning. It was the 13th launch in OneWeb’s deployment of a 648-satellite broadband constellation.

All previous launches had been conducted aboard Russian Soyuz boosters, with six more planned for this year. However, the contract was severed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.

OneWeb has also reached a deal to launch satellites on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster.