CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the LVM3-M6 mission on Wednesday at 8:am 54 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, marking another major commercial mission for India’s heavy lift launch vehicle.

The mission will place the BlueBird Block 2 satellite, weighing around 6,500 kg, a next generation communications satellite, into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The satellite belongs to AST SpaceMobile, a global satellite communications company developing space based cellular broadband connectivity. LVM3, formerly known as Gaganyaan Launch Vehicle GSLV Mk III, is ISRO’s most powerful rocket, capable of carrying heavy payloads to low Earth orbit. Standing about 43.5 metres tall and weighing nearly 640 tonnes, the 3-stage launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight missions as well as large commercial satellite launches.

According to ISRO, the mission will demonstrate the LVM3’s reliability for high mass commercial payloads. The BlueBird Block-2 satellite, developed by US based AST SpaceMobile, is a large, high mass communications satellite that’s designed to provide direct satellite to mobile broadband connectivity. It’s equipped with a large phased array antenna system, enabling it to connect directly with standard mobile phones without the need for ground based towers. It operates in low Earth orbit, allowing lower latency and wider coverage.

The LVM3-M6 mission assumes significance as ISRO continues to expand its commercial launch portfolio alongside strategic missions such as Gaganyaan.