ISRO's heaviest rocket carrying US communication satellite lifts off

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan called it a major achievement for the country. Previously, the LVM3-M5 communication satellite-03, launched in November, weighed approximately 4,400 kilograms. It was placed in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Weighing 6,100 kilograms, BlueBird is the heaviest satellite ever launched from India. The LVM3-M6 rocket, which launched BlueBird Block-2, weighs 640 tons. It is India's heaviest launch vehicle. BlueBird Block-2 is a next-generation communication satellite designed to provide high-speed cellular broadband connectivity directly to ordinary smartphones.

Also Read: Tri-Services Exercise 2025 'Trishul' concludes successfully showcased the strength of armed forces Through this satellite, 4G and 5G voice calls, video calls, messaging, streaming, and data services will be available from anywhere on Earth. This mission is part of a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and US-based AST SpaceMobile (AST & Science, LLC). NewSpace India is the commercial arm of ISRO.

Satellite separated from the rocket 15 minutes after launch

According to ISRO, the approximately 43.5-meter-tall LVM3-M6 rocket lifted off from the second launch pad in Sriharikota at 8:54 AM on Wednesday. After a flight of about 15 minutes, the BlueBird Block-2 satellite separated from the rocket and was successfully placed in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of approximately 520 km. The rocket was launched with a 90-second delay, at 8:55:30 AM. It was initially scheduled to be launched at 8:54 AM. According to ISRO, thousands of active satellites were constantly passing over the space area of ​​Sriharikota. Due to the risk of collision with other satellites, the mission's launch time was extended by 90 seconds.

Chandrayaan-3 was launched by LVM3, this was its third commercial mission

The LVM3-M6, also known as GSLV Mk-III, is ISRO's three-stage rocket. It is equipped with a cryogenic engine developed by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. The rocket has two S200 solid rocket boosters for lift-off, which were developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Also Read:  India to Celebrate 2nd National Space Day on August 23, Focus on Human Spaceflight

This is the 9th flight of LVM3 and the third commercial mission for the Bluebird Block-2 satellite. According to ISRO, LVM3 has so far completed eight consecutive successful launches, including major missions like Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3. This same rocket made history in 2023 by successfully landing Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar south pole. Due to its massive size and weight, the LVM3 has been popularly nicknamed the 'Bahubali rocket' by the public and media, inspired by the popular film Bahubali.

ISRO Chairman says LVM-3's 9th flight mission was successful

In his address after the launch, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan described the successful launch of the Bluebird Block-2 communication satellite as a major achievement. He said, "The launch vehicle has successfully and precisely placed the Bluebird Block-2 communication satellite into its designated orbit." Narayanan said, "This is the first dedicated commercial launch for the American company AST SpaceMobile. This is the 104th launch from Sriharikota and the 9th successful mission of the LVM-3 launch vehicle, proving its 100% reliability." Narayanan added, "This is the second consecutive mission of LVM-3 within 52 days." PM Modi says it's a milestone in India's space journey Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated ISRO. He wrote in a post on the social media platform X: "This is a major achievement in India's space sector. A proud milestone in India's space journey. It strengthens India's heavy-lift launch capabilities and reinforces our growing role in the global commercial launch market."