PM Modi congratulates ISRO on successful launch of BlueBird Block-2 satellite

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful launch of the LVM3-M6 mission, which carried the United States’ next-generation BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Calling it a “significant stride in India’s space sector,” the Prime Minister said the mission marked a proud milestone in India’s space journey and strengthened the country’s heavy-lift launch capabilities.

“The successful LVM3-M6 launch, placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil—the spacecraft of the USA, BlueBird Block-2—into its intended orbit, reinforces India’s growing role in the global commercial launch market. This is also reflective of our efforts towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” PM Modi said in a post on X, congratulating ISRO’s scientists and engineers.

The LVM3-M6 rocket lifted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 8:55 am IST. About 15 minutes into the flight, the BlueBird Block-2 satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle and was placed into its designated orbit at an altitude of around 520 km, after which the mission was declared a success.

Weighing approximately 6,100 kg, BlueBird Block-2 is the heaviest payload ever placed into Low Earth Orbit by the LVM3 launch vehicle and the largest commercial communications satellite deployed in LEO to date.

ISRO said the LVM3-M6/BlueBird Block-2 mission was a dedicated commercial launch undertaken under an agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, and US-based AST SpaceMobile. The mission marked the sixth operational flight of India’s heavy-lift LVM3 rocket.

Developed by ISRO, the LVM3 is a three-stage launch vehicle comprising two S200 solid strap-on boosters, a liquid core stage (L110), and a cryogenic upper stage (C25). 

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh also congratulated ISRO, saying the organisation continues to achieve one success after another under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, reaffirming India’s growing prowess in space technology.

The BlueBird Block-2 satellite is part of AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation constellation aimed at providing space-based cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard smartphones without specialised hardware or device modifications. According to the company, the satellite will enable users to make video calls, browse the internet, and access high-speed 4G and 5G services from anywhere on Earth for both commercial and government applications.

This launch marks the second major collaboration between ISRO and US agencies this year, following the successful launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission in July. AST SpaceMobile has already launched five BlueBird satellites in September 2024 and has partnerships with more than 50 mobile operators worldwide as it expands its global network.