LVM3 “Bahubali” powers India’s heaviest commercial space launch

India strengthened its global space credentials as ISRO’s LVM3 completed a flawless heavy-lift commercial mission via NSIL

PGurus Newsdesk

December 24, 2025

Marking its 101st mission success, ISRO’s LVM3 rocket delivered a 6.5-tonne commercial satellite into orbit

India boosts global space stature with LVM3 heavy-lift triumph

India’s space programme marked a landmark moment as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the heaviest foreign satellite ever lifted from Indian soil, underscoring the country’s growing prowess in heavy-lift and commercial space missions.

The LVM3-M6 mission lifted off flawlessly from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 08:54 IST on December 24, 2025. Nicknamed “Bahubali” for its massive 640-tonne liftoff weight, the three-stage launch vehicle placed AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite into a Low Earth Orbit of about 520–600 km.

The 6.5-tonne satellite is the heaviest payload launched from India to date and marks ISRO’s 101st successful orbital mission. The launch was executed under a commercial agreement through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, reinforcing India’s credibility in the global launch services market.

Millions watched live as the LVM3—powered by two S200 solid strap-on boosters, an L110 liquid core stage, and a C25 cryogenic upper stage—performed with precision, deploying the satellite into its intended orbit without deviation.

LAUNCH! ISRO’s LVM-3 launches BlueBird Block 2 FM1 from the Second Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India.
ISRO live:https://t.co/9xU5T6Fnt0 pic.twitter.com/XRo3JSHyo6
— NSF – NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) December 24, 2025

ISRO Chairman, in his post-launch address, hailed the mission as a major technological milestone. “This marks a new chapter for India, with the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil. LVM3 has once again demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving orbital accuracy with less than two kilometres of dispersion—among the best globally,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated the space agency, calling the mission a significant boost to India’s space ambitions. “The successful LVM3-M6 launch, placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil—the BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft of the USA—into its intended orbit, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey. It strengthens our heavy-lift capabilities and reinforces India’s expanding role in the global commercial launch market,” the Prime Minister said.

The satellite, BlueBird 6, is part of AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation BlueBird Block-2 constellation, designed to provide space-based cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard mobile smartphones, without the need for specialised hardware.

The mission was carried out under a commercial launch agreement between NSIL and US-based AST SpaceMobile (AST & Science, LLC), highlighting India’s emergence as a reliable partner for advanced international satellite deployments.

Developed by ISRO, the LVM3 is a heavy-lift launch vehicle standing 43.5 metres tall, with a payload capability of 4,200 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The rocket has previously launched major missions including Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb missions that deployed a total of 72 satellites.

The previous LVM3 mission, LVM3-M5/CMS-03, was successfully completed on November 2, further cementing the vehicle’s strong track record.

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