Now Reading: ISRO launches heaviest satellite BlueBird Block-2 on LVM3 rocket
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ISRO launches heaviest satellite BlueBird Block-2 on LVM3 rocket
ISRO on Wednesday successfully launched the US-based AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 8:55 AM. The satellite, carried aboard the LVM3-M6 rocket, separated…
ISRO on Wednesday successfully launched the US-based AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 8:55 AM. The satellite, carried aboard the LVM3-M6 rocket, separated about 15 minutes after liftoff and was placed into its intended low Earth orbit. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan called it the heaviest satellite ever lifted from Indian soil using an Indian launcher.
The BlueBird Block-2 is part of a global constellation that aims to provide direct-to-mobile connectivity, enabling 4G and 5G voice and video calls, messaging and data services anywhere. The launch was conducted under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), ISRO's commercial arm, and AST SpaceMobile. The LVM3-M6 is the sixth operational flight of the rocket, which has completed eight consecutive successful launches including Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3.
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This launch cements ISRO's position in the global commercial satellite market, where demand for heavy-lift capability is rising as telecom firms deploy low-earth-orbit constellations. The BlueBird series competes with SpaceX's Starlink direct-to-cell service, which began trials in 2024. NSIL's contract with AST SpaceMobile is among the largest foreign satellite launch deals for India. The LVM3 rocket, now with nine straight successes including Chandrayaan-3, is ISRO's only vehicle capable of lifting four-tonne payloads. India's next milestone is the human-rated LVM3 for the Gaganyaan crewed mission, targeted for late 2026.
Source: newsonair.gov.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
