Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful launch of the LVM3-M6 mission, calling it a landmark achievement in India’s space journey. The mission saw India’s heaviest rocket lift off a U.S. satellite, BlueBird Block-2, into its designated orbit.
Sharing a video of the launch on X, PM Modi highlighted the mission as a demonstration of India’s growing heavy-lift launch capabilities and its expanding role in the global commercial space market. “The successful LVM3-M6 launch, placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey,” he wrote. He added that the achievement also reflects the country’s drive for self-reliance, describing it as a step forward for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The LVM3-M6 rocket, standing 43.5 metres tall, lifted off at 8:54 am from ISRO’s second launch pad in Bengaluru. The launch vehicle delivered the BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft into Low Earth Orbit in about 15 minutes, completing a flawless mission.
The BlueBird Block-2 satellite, operated by AST SpaceMobile of the U.S., is part of a global constellation designed to provide direct-to-mobile connectivity, enabling 4G and 5G voice and video calls, messaging, streaming, and data services anywhere on Earth. The mission was executed under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO, and AST SpaceMobile.
