Sriharikota. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Wednesday achieved a significant commercial milestone with the launch of its most powerful and heaviest launch vehicle, LVM3-M6. This 43.5 meter high rocket, which took off at 8:55 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, successfully placed the American communication satellite Blue Bird Block-2 in its designated orbit. The mission was part of an exclusive agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of India’s space agency, and American company AST Spacemobile.
This launch was historic in many ways. Weighing 6,100 kg, the satellite is the heaviest payload ever placed in low Earth orbit (LEO) in the history of LVM3. The earlier record was for a payload of 4,400 kg. To carry this heavy satellite into space, the rocket used two powerful S200 solid boosters and an advanced cryogenic engine, which has been indigenously developed by various centers of ISRO. The main objective of the Blue Bird Block-2 satellite is to deliver high-speed cellular broadband services directly from space to smartphones.
This is a next-generation technology that will enable 4G and 5G voice, video calls, messaging and data streaming directly on mobile phones, without any special hardware or towers. AST Spacemobile is building a global network that will ensure continuous Internet connectivity even in remote areas of the world.
The company has already partnered with more than 50 global mobile operators. This successful mission of ISRO has further strengthened India’s position in the global commercial space market. About 15 minutes after launch, the satellite separated from the rocket and deployed in its orbit. This success not only reflects technical prowess but also proves that India’s LVM3 rocket is one of the world’s most reliable options for accurately launching heavy satellites.
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