SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) solidified its position in the global commercial space market today with a record-setting satellite deployment, while its chairman announced a major expansion with a new launch facility set to become operational in Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu by 2027.
In a flawless morning mission, ISRO’s heavy-lift launch vehicle, LVM3 (often called “Bahubali”), successfully placed the 5,908-kg US communication satellite BlueBird-6 into a precise low Earth orbit. The launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here at 8:55 am marked a significant milestone, being one of the heaviest commercial payloads ever launched by India.
“We have achieved unprecedented accuracy in this mission, the best in the history of our space launches,” declared ISRO Chairman V Narayanan in a post-launch address. He revealed that while orbital placement typically allows a margin of ±15 km, the BlueBird-6 satellite was delivered within an exceptional 1.5 km of its target orbit.
The mission, conducted for US-based AST SpaceMobile via ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), represents India’s growing clout as a reliable, high-capacity launch service provider. The satellite is designed to provide direct 4G and 5G mobile connectivity to remote areas.
Chairman Narayanan highlighted the rocket's impeccable track record, noting this was the LVM3’s ninth consecutive success and the 104th launch from Sriharikota. “LVM3 has demonstrated 100 percent mission reliability,” he stated, adding that the achievement bolsters confidence for upcoming endeavors like the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
Reflecting on India's journey from relying on foreign rockets in the 1960s to now launching multi-ton satellites for international clients, Narayanan outlined an ambitious future. He confirmed that construction of a second launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu is nearing completion, with the first rocket launch from the new facility projected for March 2027.
To date, NSIL has launched 434 foreign satellites from 34 countries. Following today’s success, ISRO reports increased interest from several nations seeking to utilize its launch services, signaling a robust pipeline for India’s commercial space operations.