By Tanisha Mohanty
In a historic moment, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its heaviest rocket LVM3 on Wednesday from the launch station Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The LVM3-M6 deployed the Bluebird Block-2 US communications satellite into the lower earth orbit (LEO), marking a significant development in high-speed broadband connectivity.
The mission is a collaboration between NewSpace India Ltd. and AST SpaceMobile, based in the States. The BlueBird Block-2 comsat, the first-ever space-based network, aims to provide smartphones directly with 4G and 5G broadband, especially in isolated areas globally and is meant for government as well as commercial use.
With a height of 43.5 metres, the ‘Bahubali’ rocket made a 15-minute journey before the BlueBird Block-2 was detached and placed in the intended orbit. The heavy-launch vehicle– weighing 6,100 kgs– is the heaviest ever LVM3 launch by ISRO, also an important milestone for the Bengaluru-based space agency. The previous heaviest LMV-3-M5 was launched on November 3, weighing 4,400 kgs.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the success of the mission is a “significant stride in India’s space sector”. Modi also continued to say the operation is “reflective of our efforts towards a Atmanirbhar Bharat.” Venturing into commercial gains, this mission follows two other LVM3 launches into LEO in 2022 and 2023. While there are heavy-launch vehicles for satellite deployment, lower costs, high rates of success and efficiency has given ISRO the upper hand over other space agencies.
This is also the shortest time taken by the agency between two LVM launches and is its sixth operational lift off. The LVM3 has launched Chandrayan-2, Chandrayan-2 and two OneWeb missions over the last few years, constituting over 72 satellites.
ISRO previously collaborated with the US in July to launch a satellite which takes high-resolution photographs of the Earth through layers of fog, clouds etc. The US-based AST SpaceMobile has planned to collaborate with over 50 space agencies to launch other satellites to expand the space broadband network.