Photo: AFP/Indian Space Research Organisation
Eurasia
25/12/2025 14:00
This is the heaviest payload carried by an Indian launcher. The goal is to beam broadband straight from space to ordinary smartphones, no special gear required, according to NDTV.
As the 24-hour countdown concluded, the 43.5 metre tall rocket supported by two S200 solid boosters lifted off majestically at 8:55 am from the second launch pad at this spaceport, situated about 135 km east of Chennai.
After a flight journey of about 15 minutes, the spacecraft BlueBird Block-2 riding piggyback on the rocket, got separated and reached its intended orbit at an altitude of about 520 km.
"LVM3-M6 successfully and precisely" injected the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite in the intended orbit," said Dr V Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO.
"This is the heaviest satellite ever lifted from Indian soil using an Indian launcher. This is also the third fully commercial mission of LVM-3 and the vehicle has demonstrated its excellent track record," Narayanan said, adding, "This is one of the best performances of any launch vehicle in the global arena."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the launch "a significant stride in India's space sector."