NewsGate Press Network

Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) heavy-lift launch vehicle with an identifier ‘LVM3’ and popularly known as ‘Bahubali’ rocket created history on Wednesday the 24th of December 2025 by placing a big commercial telecom satellite for a customer from USA.

The launch took place from the East Coast side of India at Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) precisely at 0855 am.

The 43.5-metre-tall, 640-tonne LVM3 ‘Bahubali’ rocket smoothly placed US-based AST Space Mobile’s advanced communication satellite BlueBird-6 into a Low Earth Orbit (LEO), marking a major milestone in India’s commercial space capabilities.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the successful launch, terming it a “proud milestone” in India’s space journey.

“A significant stride in India’s space sector. The successful LVM3 launch, placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil, the spacecraft of the USA, BlueBird Block-2, into its intended orbit, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey,” Modi said in a social media message on X.

The launch was briefly delayed by about 90 seconds from the scheduled 0854 hrs as a routine precaution, generally undertaken to avoid possible space debris interference.

Following the initiation of the Automatic Launch Sequence 15 minutes prior to liftoff, the rocket ascended right on time, belching bright orange plumes.

About 16 minutes into its flight, the LVM3 successfully injected the 6.1-ton BlueBird-6 (BlueBird Block-2) satellite into a 520-km circular LEO.

In a post on X, ISRO said: “Liftoff #LVM3M6 launches the BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft from SDSC SHAR.”

Addressing scientists from the Mission Control Centre, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, Dr V. Narayanan, announced that the US satellite had been successfully and precisely placed into its intended orbit.

“This is a great achievement. All the vehicle parameters performed normally.

“This is the second LVM3 mission in a short span of 52 days,” he said, congratulating the entire ISRO team.

The mission was undertaken as part of a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Department of Space, and AST SpaceMobile LLC, USA.

BlueBird-6 is part of AST SpaceMobile’s global LEO constellation designed to provide direct-to-mobile connectivity, enabling 4G and 5G voice and video calls, messaging, streaming, and data services anywhere in the world.

The satellite features a massive 223-square-metre phased array, making it the largest commercial communications satellite ever deployed into lower earth orbit popularly known as the LEO part of atmosphere.