ISRO's 'Baahubali' Rocket Breaks Records with Heaviest Payload Launch, PM Modi Congratulates

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In a significant milestone for India's space sector, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the Bluebird Block-2 spacecraft from US-based AST SpaceMobile onboard its heavy-lift launch vehicle LVM3-M6, also known as the 'Baahubali' rocket. Weighing 6,100 kg, this is the heaviest payload ever placed into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by an ISRO rocket. The launch took place on Wednesday at 8:55 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota. The spacecraft was successfully placed into orbit, marking a proud achievement for the space agency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the ISRO team, saying that the launch reflects India's efforts towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India). The successful launch of the LVM3-M6 rocket, carrying the Bluebird Block-2 spacecraft, marks a significant stride in India's space sector. The Bluebird Block-2 mission is a commercial agreement between ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) and US-based AST SpaceMobile. The spacecraft aims to provide high-speed cellular broadband directly to smartphones worldwide. This is the first space-based cellular broadband network that connects directly to regular smartphones, supporting 4G and 5G voice and video calls, messaging, streaming, and data services across the globe. The LVM3 rocket, also known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III, is a three-stage rocket with a cryogenic engine designed and developed by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. The vehicle has successfully launched several missions, including Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb missions that carried 72 satellites. ISRO's 'Baahubali' rocket has once again proven its capabilities, achieving a record-breaking payload launch. The successful mission is a testament to the space agency's commitment to innovation and progress in the space sector.