India marked another important milestone in its space journey on Wednesday as ISRO successfully launched the LVM3-M6 mission, drawing praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the achievement as a proud moment for the nation and a strong signal of India’s growing global presence in space technology.
Sharing visuals of the launch on social media, the Prime Minister said the mission underlined India’s advancing heavy-lift launch capability and its rising credibility in the international commercial satellite launch market. He noted that placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil into orbit showcased the country’s technical strength and reliability.
According to PM Modi, the mission goes beyond a single launch and reflects India’s broader push towards self-reliance in high-end technology. He congratulated ISRO’s scientists and engineers for their dedication and said India is steadily strengthening its position among leading space-faring nations.
The LVM3-M6 mission involved the successful deployment of the BlueBird Block-2 satellite, a United States communication spacecraft, into its designated Low Earth Orbit. The launch was carried out on Christmas Eve, adding to the significance of the mission.
ISRO confirmed that the satellite was accurately injected into orbit, marking a major success for the LVM3 rocket, India’s most powerful launch vehicle. The mission was conducted as part of a commercial arrangement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, and US-based satellite company AST SpaceMobile.
The BlueBird Block-2 satellite is part of a global Low Earth Orbit constellation aimed at enabling direct-to-mobile connectivity. Once operational, the network is expected to support 4G and 5G services, including voice calls, video streaming, messaging and data access, even in remote or underserved regions.
Standing over 43 metres tall, the LVM3-M6 rocket lifted off from the second launch pad in the morning and completed its mission in about 15 minutes. The satellite, weighing around 6,100 kilograms, is now the heaviest payload ever launched into Low Earth Orbit by an Indian rocket from Indian territory.
