What is the story about?
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a landmark mission this Christmas Eve, with its strongest-ever rocket, LVM3-M6 (Launch
Vehicle Mark-III-M6), scheduled to lift off on December 24, at 08:24 IST onwards from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The mission, dubbed LVM3-M6, will carry the BlueBird Block-2 communications satellite for the US-based company AST SpaceMobile under a commercial contract supported by India’s NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
The launch strengthens LVM3's growing position as India's heavy-lift "Bahubali" rocket, so called due to its immense power and weight.
The LVM3 rocket is ISRO's most potent launch vehicle with two massive solid strap-on boosters (S200), a liquid core stage (L110), and a cryogenic upper stage (C25).
The three-stage rocket, which is 43.5 metres tall and has a 640-ton lift-off mass, has already launched popular missions including OneWeb broadband satellites (carrying a total of 72 satellites) and Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3, according to India Today.
The 6,100-kilogram BlueBird Block-2 satellite will be launched into a 520-kilometre circular orbit with a 53-degree inclination by the LVM3-M6 during this mission. This satellite is the first of its size and complexity to be put in LEO and the heaviest payload ever launched by LVM3 from India.
The goal of BlueBird Block-2, one of the biggest commercial communications satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), is to provide space-based fast cellular broadband directly to regular mobile phones worldwide.
Beyond its economic value, LVM3 is important for India's human spaceflight effort. The same launch vehicle is expected to carry upcoming test missions under Gaganyaan, with uncrewed flights scheduled to validate human-mission systems before astronauts are sent into orbit.
Also read: ISRO to launch communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile on December 24
With eight consecutive successful missions, ISRO's LVM3 has maintained a stellar record. This mission highlights India's growing participation in the global satellite launch industry, as it is the third dedicated commercial flight using the LVM3.
Where to watch
You can watch the launch live from Sriharikota's observation galleries on December 24 in the morning by registering through official methods. Additionally, ISRO's website and social media accounts will offer live broadcasting of the mission.
The launch can be watched live on ISRO's official website or YouTube channel.
