In a milestone achievement for India’s space program, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday successfully launched the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission, carried out by the "Baahubali" LVM3-M6 rocket, marked the heaviest payload ever lifted from Indian soil.
Speaking shortly after the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan (noting the leadership for the current 2025 mission) emphasized that this success is far more than a commercial victory—it is a critical validation for India’s upcoming human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan.
"A Solid Foundation for Gaganyaan"
The LVM3-M6 mission served as a rigorous testbed for advanced technologies that are central to the Gaganyaan mission. Chairman Narayanan highlighted several key technical improvements:
- Advanced Actuators: For the first time, India’s high-power electro-mechanical activator was used in a live mission.
- Solid Motor Systems: Improvements to the solid motor hydro systems were successfully flight-tested.
- Precision Injection: The satellite was placed in orbit with a margin of less than two kilometers, which Narayanan described as "one of the best performances of any launch vehicle in the global arena."
"Today’s mission is very important for us. This is the mission for the Gaganyaan programme of India. It improves our confidence for the Gaganyaan programme," said Chairman Narayanan.
Breaking Records: The Heaviest Payload
The BlueBird Block-2, owned by U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile, weighed approximately 6,500 kg (6.5 tonnes). This launch officially surpassed all previous records for the heaviest satellite launched by an Indian rocket into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
| Feature | Details |
| Launch Vehicle | LVM3-M6 (The "Baahubali" Rocket) |
| Satellite Weight | ~6,500 kg |
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit (LEO) - ~520 km |
| Purpose | Direct-to-smartphone 4G/5G cellular broadband |
| Milestone | 6th Operational Flight of LVM3 |
Prime Minister’s Commendation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the mission as a "significant stride" in India's space journey. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he noted that the reliable performance of the LVM3 is strengthening the foundations for self-reliance in space.
Powered by India’s youth, our space programme is getting more advanced and impactful.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2025
With LVM3 demonstrating reliable heavy-lift performance, we are strengthening the foundations for future missions such as Gaganyaan, expanding commercial launch services and deepening global… pic.twitter.com/f53SiUXyZr
