This launch surpasses the previous record held by the LVM3-M5 mission, which carried a satellite weighing around 4,400 kg.

BlueBird Block-2 Success: PM Modi Praises ISRO’s Record-Breaking Baahubali Mission

On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of the BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft aboard its heavy-lift launch vehicle LVM3-M6, popularly known as the ‘Baahubali’ rocket. According to officials, the lift-off took place precisely at 8:55 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking one of the most ambitious missions in ISRO’s recent history.

The mission’s remarkable achievement is the deployment of the 6,100 kg BlueBird Block-2 satellite into its designated orbit, making it the heaviest payload ever placed into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by the LVM3 series of rockets, ISRO said. This launch surpasses the previous record held by the LVM3-M5 mission, which carried a satellite weighing around 4,400 kg.

BlueBird Block-2, developed for US-based AST SpaceMobile, represents a next-generation communication satellite designed to improve global connectivity, as stated by ISRO. The mission is being conducted under a commercial agreement between ISRO’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), and AST SpaceMobile, also known as AST & Science LLC.

According to ISRO officials, the satellite was successfully placed into its intended orbit following the launch, highlighting the precision and reliability of the LVM3-M6 vehicle. This launch further reinforces ISRO’s growing capabilities in handling large, complex, and internationally significant space missions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed enthusiasm about the mission’s success, highlighting the launch as a “significant stride in India’s space sector” and a reflection of India’s progress toward a self-reliant (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) space ecosystem. Modi extended his congratulations to the scientists and engineers behind the mission, noting that India continues to advance globally in space technology.

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh also praised the ISRO team, applauding their consistent performance in achieving successive space milestones.

Officials said that the BlueBird Block-2 mission underscores ISRO’s technical prowess and also positions India as a competitive player in the global commercial launch market, strengthening its role in international space collaboration.

Source: Hindustan Times