Proud Milestone: Modi Hails Launch of BlueBird Block-2 Satellite

Congratulating ISRO’s scientists and engineers, the Prime Minister said the achievement reflects India’s growing self-reliance and expanding role in the global space sector. He emphasised that the mission aligns with the vision of an “Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “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.”

He noted that the mission strengthened India’s heavy-lift launch capability and reinforced its position in the global commercial launch market. “This is also reflective of our efforts towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Congratulations to our hardworking space scientists and engineers. India continues to soar higher in the world of space!” the Prime Minister added.

Highlighting the reliability of the LVM3 rocket, PM Modi said it is laying a strong foundation for future missions such as Gaganyaan, expanded commercial launch services, and deeper international partnerships.

“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 partnerships. This increased capability and boost to self-reliance are wonderful for the coming generations,” he said in another post.

ISRO successfully launched the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile on Wednesday morning. The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 8:55 am IST, with the satellite successfully placed into orbit.

The mission will deploy a next-generation communication satellite designed to provide high-speed cellular broadband directly to standard smartphones worldwide.