India’s “Baahubali” rocket, Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)-M6, has successfully placed the heaviest satellite ever carried by an Indian launcher into orbit, marking a major milestone for the country’s space programme.
The rocket lifted off at 8:55am on Wednesday from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
It carried BlueBird Block-2, a next-generation communications satellite developed by US company AST SpaceMobile, read a press release by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Standing 43.5 metres tall and powered by two S200 solid boosters, the LVM3-M6 completed its mission after a flight of about 15 minutes, successfully injecting the satellite into its intended low Earth orbit at an altitude of around 520 kilometres.
The satellite separated from the launch vehicle as planned and reached orbit with precision, according to the ISRO.
Department of Space Secretary and ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the LVM3-M6 had “successfully and precisely” injected the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite into its designated orbit.
He said the mission marked the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil using an Indian launcher and described it as the third fully commercial mission of the LVM-3.
“The vehicle has demonstrated its excellent track record. This is one of the best performances of any launch vehicle in the global arena,” Narayanan said.
The BlueBird Block-2 mission aims to deliver broadband connectivity directly from space to ordinary smartphones without the need for specialised equipment.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the successful launch as “a significant stride in India’s space sector.”
The LVM-3 is India’s most powerful operational rocket and has previously carried lunar missions, launched global internet satellites such as OneWeb, and deployed the country’s largest communication satellites.
Since 2014, ISRO has launched more than 360 satellites for 34 countries, including 232 satellites for the United States and 83 for the United Kingdom, along with missions for Singapore, Canada and South Korea.
The latest launch further strengthens India’s standing as a reliable partner for commercial, scientific and strategic space missions, as global confidence in ISRO’s launch capabilities continues to grow.
