The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the heavy American satellite BlueBird Block-2 today at 8:55 AM from Sriharikota. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the mission and called it a major achievement for India’s space sector. The BlueBird Block-2 is a communication satellite developed by the US company AST SpaceMobile. It is designed to provide space-based cellular broadband directly to mobile smartphones. The goal of the satellite is to deliver reliable 4G and 5G services anywhere and at any time, even in remote areas. The satellite was launched from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh using ISRO’s LVM3 rocket. About 15 minutes after launch, the satellite was successfully placed into its planned orbit. This mission marks two major milestones for ISRO. First, it is the largest commercial communication satellite ever placed in low Earth orbit. Second, it is the heaviest payload ever launched from Indian soil using the LVM3 rocket. After the successful launch, Prime Minister Modi said this mission is a significant step forward for India’s space capabilities. He noted that it strengthens India’s heavy-lift launch capacity and highlights the country’s growing role in the global commercial launch market. He also said the achievement reflects India’s vision of becoming self-reliant. The Prime Minister congratulated ISRO’s scientists and engineers for their hard work and dedication in making the mission a success.
