Sriharikota (Rajeev Sharma): In a major boost to India’s commercial space launch profile, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday successfully placed the heaviest foreign satellite ever launched from Indian territory into orbit using its LVM3 rocket.
The payload, BlueBird Block-2, tipped the scales at around 6,100 kilograms and was carried into Low Earth Orbit during the LVM3-M6 mission. Built by US-based AST SpaceMobile, the satellite is designed to provide direct space-based cellular broadband services to conventional mobile phones, a technology aimed at expanding connectivity beyond traditional ground networks.
This mission was undertaken as a fully commercial launch, highlighting the growing demand for ISRO’s heavy-lift launch vehicle in the international market. BlueBird Block-2 is part of a new generation of communications satellites intended to form a large constellation capable of delivering global mobile coverage.
The flight marked the sixth operational mission of the LVM3, ISRO’s most powerful launch vehicle. The rocket uses a three-stage configuration, consisting of two large solid boosters, a liquid-fuelled central stage, and a cryogenic upper stage for precise orbital insertion.
Over the years, the LVM3 has demonstrated its reliability through several high-profile missions, including India’s Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 lunar missions, as well as two commercial launches for OneWeb that deployed a total of 72 satellites.
ISRO officials said the successful placement of such a heavy and complex payload further establishes the LVM3 as a dependable platform for future commercial and strategic missions. The previous flight of the vehicle, the LVM3-M5 mission carrying the CMS-03 satellite, was completed successfully in early November.
The latest launch reinforces India’s position as a competitive player in the global space economy, particularly in the segment of heavy commercial satellite launches.
