Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): India’s heavy lift rocket LVM3 rocket, nick named as ‘Bahubali,’ successfully slung the American communication satellite BlueBird 6 into a Low Earth Orbit (LEO), this morning.

Weighing about 6.1 tonne, the BlueBird 6 satellite belongs to the Nasdaq listed satellite communication player AST SpaceMobile, USA.

Speaking after the launch, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan said, “I am happy to announce that LVM3M6 has successfully injected the Bluebird Block-2 US satellite and precisely into the intended orbit.”

At 8.55 am, the 43.5 metre tall and weighing 640 ton, the LVM3 rocket blasted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) rocket port carrying BlueBird 6. About 16 minutes into its flight, the LVM3 set free the BlueBird 6 in the intended LEO.

With this successful launch, the LVM3 rocket maintained its impeccable record of eight consecutive successful missions.

The LVM3 is a three-stage rocket comprising two solid strap-on motors (S200), a liquid core stage (L110) and a cryogenic upper stage (C25). It can carry approximately 4 tons to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and 10 tons to LEO, with ISRO actively working to raise its GTO capacity to 5 tons.

At about 6.5 ton, BlueBird 6 will be the heaviest satellite ever placed into LEO by the LVM3, which currently boasts a 100% launch success rate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries took to ‘X’ platform to congratulate ISRO for a successful mission.