India Launches Heaviest US-Owned Communications Satellite

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) NEW DELHI, Dec 24 (KUNA) -- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced Wednesday the successful launch of a US-owned communications satellite aboard its most powerful rocket, marking the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian territory.
ISRO said it placed the BlueBird Block 2 satellite, owned by AST SpaceMobile, into a circular orbit at an altitude of 520 kilometers, noting the 6,100-kilogram satellite was launched from Sriharikota aboard the LVM3-M6 rocket under a commercial agreement.
The mission, carried out in cooperation with NewSpace India Limited, is part of a low Earth orbit satellite network designed to provide direct mobile phone connectivity, including calls, internet services, text messaging, and data transmission worldwide.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the achievement as a major milestone reflecting India's growing self-reliance, enhanced heavy-payload launch capabilities, and expanding role in the global commercial space launch market. (end)
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