That is what it says on the tin, isn't it. However, like SPAM, I'd be cautious about accepting that premise at face value. I have at least one great source telling me that NSIL could turn these launches around so quickly because those LVM3's were available, not because of manufacturing speed. At the same time, apparently NSIL's launch processes are pretty efficient, because the company managed to still launch very quickly.
If they can match that with rapid manufacturing, then yes, it will outpace the ISRO's launch record.
Hi John, it is indeed the case that an LVM3 was already available, and is why ISRO could do such a quick turnaround. I argue how ISRO pushed back the launch of its Chandrayaan 3 Moon landing mission to accommodate two launches of OneWeb satellites: https://blog.jatan.space/p/moon-monday-issue-100
There's also the fact that ISRO’s 2020–21 Annual Report (and indeed the 2021–22 report as well) mentions Chandrayaan 3’s launch vehicle as specifically being the same LVM3 that lofted India's first batch of OneWeb satellites to orbit. Naturally, this snatch extends to the next Mk III and the next batch of OneWeb satellites. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/ISRO/comments/ycxaou/comment/itpf7vu/?context=3
NSIL is made for commercial purposes, means it will take up the responsibility ISRO had earlier, means more fast paced launched.
Hi Tri!
That is what it says on the tin, isn't it. However, like SPAM, I'd be cautious about accepting that premise at face value. I have at least one great source telling me that NSIL could turn these launches around so quickly because those LVM3's were available, not because of manufacturing speed. At the same time, apparently NSIL's launch processes are pretty efficient, because the company managed to still launch very quickly.
If they can match that with rapid manufacturing, then yes, it will outpace the ISRO's launch record.
Hi John, it is indeed the case that an LVM3 was already available, and is why ISRO could do such a quick turnaround. I argue how ISRO pushed back the launch of its Chandrayaan 3 Moon landing mission to accommodate two launches of OneWeb satellites: https://blog.jatan.space/p/moon-monday-issue-100
There's also the fact that ISRO’s 2020–21 Annual Report (and indeed the 2021–22 report as well) mentions Chandrayaan 3’s launch vehicle as specifically being the same LVM3 that lofted India's first batch of OneWeb satellites to orbit. Naturally, this snatch extends to the next Mk III and the next batch of OneWeb satellites. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/ISRO/comments/ycxaou/comment/itpf7vu/?context=3
Further, in an interview with The Hindu post-launch, ISRO Chief S. Somanath acknowledged the above: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/science-must-become-the-priority-in-future-isro-chairman-somanath/article66056657.ece
Thank you, Jatan!
I happened on a few of these, such as The Hindu article, after I posted the analysis, but the other links are useful.
--John