ISRO's 'Bahubali' Rocket Places US Communication Satellite Into Orbit

On a historic Christmas Eve mission, ISRO's heaviest rocket, LVM3-M6, effectively placed a US communication satellite into orbit on Wednesday. The space agency said the LVM3-M6 has successfully placed the BlueBird Block-2 satellite into its intended orbit. The Bluebird Block-2 mission is part of a worldwide LEO constellation providing direct-to-mobile satellite connectivity. This constellation would allow 4G and 5G voice and video calls, texts, streaming and data for everyone, everywhere, at all times.

VM3-M6, also recognized as 'Bahubali', carried the communication satellite as part of a commercial deal between NewSpace India Ltd and US-based AST SpaceMobile. NewSpace India is the commercial arm of the ISRO. The 43.5-metre-tall rocket soared majestically at 8.55 am from the second launch pad here. "The reward for hard work is more work, and we have various programmes on hand," he remarked. The ISRO chairman hailed the successful launch of the Bluebird Block-2 satellite as a "New Year and Christmas gift to Bharat."

He reflected on a year of achievements, driven by high-stakes missions, such as NISAR, CMS-03, and Bluebird Block-2. On the determined Gaganyaan mission, he said, "We have to achieve uncrewed missions, and we are getting towards that." With the industrial consortium fully prepared, Narayanan, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Space, said another launch from an Indian startup is scheduled in just a few weeks.

Previously, the developing phase of small satellite launch vehicles was completed, and we are going to start the operational phase of SSLVs, he said. One of the significant commitments made by the central government is the commission of navigation satellites. "That satellite series we are going to continue and we are going to start placing them in the intended orbit," he said.

Weighing 6,100 kg, the communication satellite would be the weightiest payload to be placed into the Low Earth Orbit in LVM3 launch history from Indian soil, the space agency said. The previous heaviest was the LVM3-M5 Communication Satellite 03, weighing around 4,400 kg, which ISRO successfully launched on November 2 in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. The mission is to organize the next-gen communication satellite, intended to offer high-speed cellular broadband directly to smartphones.

The LVM3-M6 is the sixth working flight of LVM3 and the third dedicated commercial mission to launch the Blue Origin Block-2 spacecraft. The LVM3 has a remarkable pedigree of eight successive successful launches, including the Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions, ISRO said. PTI VIJ ROH.

Source: MSN