India has marked a major leap in its space ambitions after its heaviest rocket successfully placed the largest commercial communications satellite ever launched from Indian soil into low Earth orbit on Christmas Eve.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch as a defining moment for India’s space programme, calling it a “proud milestone” that strengthens the country’s heavy-lift capability and underlines its expanding role in the global commercial launch market.
In a post on X, Modi said the mission also reflected India’s push towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliance, while congratulating the nation’s scientists and engineers.
The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3-M6) lifted off at 8.55am from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, carrying the 6,100-kg BlueBird Block-2 satellite. About 15 minutes later, the spacecraft was precisely injected into its intended orbit at an altitude of around 520 km, capping what officials described as a flawless mission.
The mission delivered two firsts for the Indian Space Research Organisation (Indian Space Research Organisation). It was the heaviest payload ever launched by the LVM3 from Indian soil and the deployment of the largest commercial communications satellite into low Earth orbit by the vehicle.
ISRO chairman V. Narayanan declared the mission a success, noting that the rocket achieved an orbital accuracy with less than two kilometres of dispersion — among the best globally. He said the flawless performance further boosts confidence in future human spaceflight missions, including Gaganyaan.
BlueBird Block-2 has been developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile and is part of a next-generation low Earth orbit constellation designed to provide direct-to-mobile broadband connectivity. The satellite features a massive 223-square-metre phased array and is built to enable 4G and 5G voice calls, video, messaging, streaming and data services directly on standard smartphones, without specialised ground equipment.
The launch was carried out under a commercial agreement between ISRO’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd, and AST SpaceMobile, reinforcing India’s growing footprint as a trusted global launch partner.
Standing 43.5 metres tall, the LVM3 — also known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-III — is a three-stage rocket powered by a cryogenic upper stage. It is designed for heavy-lift missions and has previously launched landmark projects such as Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 and multiple OneWeb satellite missions.
Abel Avellan, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, congratulated India on the successful launch of the BlueBird 6 satellite. He said,
“Perfect execution from both teams in India and the U.S. We are now in control of BlueBird 6 from our D.C. command center and with nominal telemetry!”
The Christmas Eve launch was the sixth operational flight of the LVM3 and its third dedicated commercial mission. With this success, India has now launched more than 430 satellites for over 30 countries, further cementing its reputation for reliability, precision and competitiveness in the global space industry.
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