India Makes History: ISRO Successfully Launches 6100 kg Bluebird Block-2 Satellite
ISRO made history with its final mission of the year by successfully launching the heaviest and largest communication satellite, the Bluebird Block-2, into Earth's lower orbit. The satellite, belonging to an American company, will improve mobile network connectivity. This mission strengthens ISRO's hold in the commercial space sector.
In its final mission of the year, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the heaviest communication satellite, the Bluebird Block-2, into Earth's lower orbit. The mission was entirely commercial. The 6100 kg satellite was launched by the LVM3 rocket and successfully placed into an orbit 520 kilometers above the Earth's surface within 16 minutes. The rocket is referred to as the 'Baahubali' rocket due to its capabilities. This was the sixth flight of the LVM3 and its third commercial mission.
16 Minutes to Place the 6100 kg Satellite into Orbit
The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 8:55 AM. After a flight of around 16 minutes, the communication satellite separated from the rocket and was successfully placed into Earth's lower orbit at an altitude of 520 kilometers. This mission was part of a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and American company AST SpaceMobile.
Significance of ISRO’s Mission
Prime Minister Modi expressed his joy over ISRO's successful launch through a tweet, emphasizing how the strength of India's youth is making the space program more modern and effective. The successful launch of the LVM3 rocket showcased its heavy-lift performance and contributed to future missions like Gaganyaan while expanding commercial launch services and strengthening global partnerships.
The significance of this launch is that it strengthens ISRO’s position in the commercial space sector. The Bluebird Block-2 satellite, weighing 6,100 kilograms, is the heaviest and largest communication satellite launched from India. ISRO has already successfully launched missions such as Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and the satellite internet mission for OneWeb. In the OneWeb mission, ISRO launched a total of 72 satellites in two successful missions using the LVM3 rocket.
Why is the Launched Satellite Special?
The Bluebird Block-2 satellite is part of the next-generation system. If the satellite is placed in the correct orbit and the company’s tests are successful, it will provide direct cellular broadband connectivity to 4G and 5G smartphones without requiring additional antennas or customized hardware. Currently, mobile towers are necessary for accessing 4G or 5G networks, but with the success of this satellite, the need for towers may end.
This satellite will provide mobile connectivity to remote areas such as mountainous regions, oceans, and deserts, making it easier to provide 4G-5G network services in these areas. Moreover, during natural disasters like storms, floods, earthquakes, and landslides, when telecom infrastructure is damaged, satellite networks will continue to function effectively.