ISRO's 'Bahubali' Rocket Makes History with Heaviest Launch from Indian Soil
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In a major milestone achieved on Christmas Eve, the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) heaviest rocket, LVM3-M6, successfully launched a US communication satellite into orbit. Weighing 6,100 kg, the BlueBird Block-2 satellite is the heaviest to be launched from Indian soil, marking a historic achievement for the space agency. The satellite, part of a global Low Earth Orbit mission, will provide direct-to-mobile connectivity through satellite, enabling 4G and 5G voice and video calls, texts, streaming, and data for everyone, everywhere, at all times. The launch was a textbook performance, with the rocket injecting the satellite into its intended orbit within 15 minutes of takeoff. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan hailed the launch as a 'season's gift to the country', highlighting the rocket's 100% success rate and the precision of the launch. The satellite was placed in a 518 km circular orbit, just 1.5 km less than the targeted altitude. This mission marks a significant achievement for ISRO, which has launched a total of 434 satellites for 34 countries. The LVM3 rocket has demonstrated its capabilities, and the successful launch of the BlueBird Block-2 satellite brings India's total to 435 satellites launched for 34 countries. The launch was a commercial deal between NewSpace India Ltd and US-based AST SpaceMobile. AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network, accessible directly by smartphones and designed for both commercial and government applications. The LVM3-M6 rocket is a three-stage rocket with a cryogenic engine designed and developed by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. The vehicle uses two S200 solid rocket boosters to provide the huge amount of thrust required for the lift-off. ISRO has achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the BlueBird Block-2 satellite, marking a new era in space technology. The agency has plans to launch more satellites in the near future, including navigation satellites, to further expand its capabilities in space exploration and communication.
