Launch of BlueBird-2: ISRO's "Baahubali" rocket LVM3-M6 takes off with its largest payload ever | Watch

The Bluebird Block-2, weighing 6,100 kg, is the heaviest payload ever launched by ISRO's LVM3 rocket into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), making the launch noteworthy.

In what is regarded as a significant milestone for the space agency's commercial push, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched the Bluebird Block-2 spacecraft of US-based AST SpaceMobile onto its heavy-lift launch vehicle LVM3-M6, a "Baahubali" rocket, on Wednesday. On Wednesday, the spacecraft took out from the Satish Dhawan Space Center's launch pad in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 8.55 a.m.

The space agency reports that the satellite was subsequently successfully launched into orbit.

PM Modi and a Union minister applaud the launch of ISRO
The launch was praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who stated that it represents "our efforts towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat."

"A significant stride in India's space sector," Modi wrote in a post on X.A major milestone in India's space adventure was reached with the successful LVM3-M6 launch, which sent the USA spacecraft BlueBird Block-2, the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil, into its designated orbit.

"This is also reflective of our efforts towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat," he continued. Congratulations to our diligent engineers and scientists in space. India is still reaching new heights in space exploration!

Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology, praised the ISRO crew for the successful launch and said that the space agency continues to "achieve one success after another."

Bravo to Team #ISRO for successfully launching LVM3-M6 with BlueBird Block-2. He commented on X, "ISRO continues to achieve success after success under the visionary patronage of PM Narendra Modi, reiterating India's growing prowess in space technology."

Why the launch of ISRO's Bluebird Block-2 is important
The mission is being conducted as part of a business deal between US-based AST SpaceMobile, also known as AST and Science LLC, and ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL).

This is the heaviest payload that ISRO's heavy-lift launch vehicle LVM3 has ever carried, weighing 6,100 kg. The LVM3-M5 Communication Satellite-03, which weighed over 4,400 kg and was successfully launched into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by ISRO on November 2, held the previous record.

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It's also important to note that the mission aims to launch the next-generation communication satellite into orbit in order to deliver high-speed cellular internet directly to smartphones across the globe.

US-based AST The first wireless broadband network in space that can be directly connected to standard cellphones is being developed by SpaceMobile. The network will enable 4G and 5G voice and video conversations, messaging, streaming, and data services worldwide and is designed for both commercial and governmental use.

Everything you should know about ISRO's LVM3 vehicle
The LVM3, also called the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III, is a three-stage rocket that stands 43.5 meters tall. According to the space agency, it makes use of a cryogenic engine created and built by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Center.

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Two S200 solid rocket boosters installed on the vehicle supply the high thrust required for lift-off. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in Thiruvananthapuram developed these boosters.

Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb missions, which collectively carried 72 satellites, were all successfully launched using the LVM3 in earlier missions.