India’s space agency, ISRO, achieved a major success on Christmas Eve by successfully launching its heavy-lift rocket LVM3. The launch placed the heaviest foreign satellite ever sent into space from Indian soil into orbit, marking an important milestone for the country’s space programme.

The mission, called LVM3-M6 and nicknamed “Bahubali” because of its massive size, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 8:54 am IST on December 24, 2025. The rocket weighed around 640 tonnes at liftoff, making it one of the most powerful launch vehicles developed by India.

The LVM3 carried a 6.5-tonne communication satellite named BlueBird Block-2, built by US-based company AST SpaceMobile. This was ISRO’s sixth operational flight of the LVM3 rocket and its 101st successful orbital mission overall. The launch was carried out as a commercial mission through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Millions of people watched the launch live as the three-stage rocket, powered by two solid boosters, a liquid core stage, and a cryogenic upper stage, performed perfectly. The satellite was successfully placed into a Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of about 520 to 600 kilometres.

ISRO Chairman said the mission was a new milestone for India, as it involved launching the heaviest satellite ever from Indian soil. He added that the LVM3 delivered the satellite with very high accuracy, placing it within just a few kilometres of the planned orbit.

The BlueBird Block-2 satellite is designed to provide direct mobile connectivity. It can send 4G and 5G signals straight to regular smartphones without the need for mobile towers. This technology can help connect people in remote areas such as mountains, deserts, and oceans. AST SpaceMobile said the satellite will work with more than 50 mobile operators worldwide to improve global connectivity.

The successful launch further strengthens India’s position in the global commercial space market. It also boosts confidence in the LVM3 rocket, which will be used in future missions, including the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. The mission adds another major achievement to ISRO’s growing list of successes and shows India’s rising role in global space technology.