'Significant Stride In India’s Space Sector': PM Modi Hails ISRO's BlueBird Block-2 Launch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed ISRO’s successful LVM3-M6 mission, describing it as “a significant stride in India’s space sector” and a proud milestone in the country’s expanding space journey.

Sharing a video of the launch on X, the Prime Minister said the mission underscored India’s growing heavy-lift launch capability and reinforced its role in the global commercial launch market.

“The successful LVM3-M6 launch, placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil, the spacecraft of USA, BlueBird Block-2, into its intended orbit, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey,” PM Modi mentioned in his post.

He added that the achievement “strengthens India’s heavy-lift launch capability and reinforces our growing

role in the global commercial launch market.”

Highlighting the broader significance of the mission, the Prime Minister said it was also reflective of the country’s push towards self-reliance.

“This is also reflective of our efforts towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Congratulations to our hardworking space scientists and engineers,” he said, concluding with the message, “India continues to soar higher in the world of space!”

A significant stride in India’s space sector…

The successful LVM3-M6 launch, placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil, the spacecraft of USA, BlueBird Block-2, into its intended orbit, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey.

It strengthens… pic.twitter.com/AH6aJAyOhi

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2025

In a second post on X, PM Modi emphasised the contribution of young Indians to the country’s space programme and linked the success of LVM3-M6 to future ambitions.

“Powered by India’s youth, our space programme is getting more advanced and impactful,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that with LVM3 demonstrating “reliable heavy-lift performance,” India is “strengthening the foundations for future missions such as Gaganyaan, expanding commercial launch services and deepening global partnerships.”

He added that the enhanced capability and increased self-reliance would be “wonderful for the coming generations.”

Powered by India’s youth, our space programme is getting more advanced and impactful.

With LVM3 demonstrating reliable heavy-lift performance, we are strengthening the foundations for future missions such as Gaganyaan, expanding commercial launch services and deepening global… pic.twitter.com/f53SiUXyZr

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2025

The Prime Minister’s remarks came after ISRO successfully carried out the LVM3-M6 launch on Christmas Eve, marking a historic milestone for India’s space programme.

According to PTI, the 43.5-metre-tall LVM3-M6 rocket lifted off at 8.54 am from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

After a flight of about 15 minutes, the vehicle successfully placed the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite into its intended orbit.

The mission was executed as part of a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, and US-based AST SpaceMobile.

The Bengaluru-headquartered space agency confirmed that the LVM3-M6 had successfully deployed the spacecraft, which weighs 6,100 kg, making it the heaviest payload ever launched into Low Earth Orbit by an LVM3 rocket from Indian soil.

ISRO said the previous heaviest payload launched by LVM3 was the Communication Satellite-03, weighing about 4,400 kg, which was placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit on November 2.

The BlueBird Block-2 mission, PTI reported, is aimed at deploying a next-generation communication satellite designed to provide high-speed cellular broadband directly to smartphones.

The LVM3-M6, also known as the GSLV-MkIII, is a three-stage rocket featuring a cryogenic engine developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre and two S200 solid rocket boosters developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

The mission was the sixth operational flight of LVM3 and its third dedicated commercial mission, adding to the vehicle’s record of eight consecutive successful launches, including the Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions.

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