India's space agency delivered a festive triumph on Christmas Eve, executing a flawless LVM3 launch that propelled the heaviest foreign satellite ever from Indian soil into orbit.
The LVM3-M6 mission, dubbed "Bahubali" for its mighty 640-tonne liftoff mass, roared off the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at precisely 08:54 IST on December 24, 2025.
Carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird Block-2, a humongous 6.5-tonne communication satellite, this sixth operational flight marked Isro's 101st orbital success and a commercial coup via NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
Millions tuned into the live stream, witnessing the three-stage behemoth, two S200 solid boosters, L110 liquid core, and C25 cryogenic upper, deploy the payload into a 520-600 km Low Earth Orbit without a hitch.
BlueBird Block-2, the largest commercial comms satellite for LEO to date, boasts a 223 sq m phased-array antenna to beam 4G/5G signals straight to unmodified smartphones.
This direct-to-cell tech promises to connect remote Himalayas, vast oceans, and arid deserts, partnering with 50+ global mobile operators to bridge digital divides for billions.
US-based AST SpaceMobile hailed the deployment as a pivotal step in their constellation, rivaling Starlink with seamless broadband sans ground towers.
A miracle of precision engineering, LVM3 wraps up 2025 after Chandrayaan-3 and OneWeb batch launches in the past. Public galleries buzzed with cheers, as the rocket's signature plume lit the Andhra Pradesh skies.
Boost to India's Commercial Space Prowess
This third fully commercial LVM3 outing underscores India's launch reliability amid global competition. Proven in high-stakes missions, the 43.5m vehicle now eyes Gaganyaan crewed flights.
The success draws more foreign payloads, fortifying NSIL's $10 billion market share while advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat in space tech.
As BlueBird preps to unfurl its arrays, global connectivity enters a new era, courtesy of India's festive space fireworks.
Source: India Today