ISRO launches next-generation communication Satelite BlueBird from Sriharikota
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the American satellite BlueBird Block-2 on Wednesday morning from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, using the LVM3-M6 rocket. Weighing 6,100 kilograms, BlueBird is the heaviest satellite ever launched by India.
The LVM3 rocket used for the launch weighs 640 tons, making it India's heaviest launch vehicle. Due to its superior power, capacity, and performance, it is often referred to as the "Bahubali rocket."
According to ISRO, approximately 15 minutes after launch, the satellite separated from the rocket and was successfully placed into a low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of about 520 km. The rocket was launched at 8:55:30 AM, 90 seconds later than initially planned.
According to ISRO, thousands of active satellites were continuously passing over the Sriharikota space area. The launch time was delayed by 90 seconds to avoid a potential collision with other satellites.
BlueBird Block-2 is a next-generation communication satellite designed to provide direct broadband connectivity to ordinary smartphones. It will enable 4G and 5G voice calls, video calls, messaging, streaming, and data services from anywhere on Earth. This mission is part of a commercial agreement between ISRO and the American company AST SpaceMobile.