Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V. Narayanan on Wednesday highlighted that the successful launch of the BlueBird Block-2 satellite greatly enhances India’s confidence ahead of the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. He stated that the achievement reinforces India’s space capabilities and provides a strong foundation for future endeavors under the Gaganyaan programme.

Speaking about the mission, Narayanan said, “This is the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil, and we have successfully placed it into orbit. The orbit deviation was under two kilometres, one of the best performances globally for any launch vehicle. With this mission, India has now launched 434 satellites for 34 countries. Following the previous launch on November 2, we have achieved another successful mission in just 52 days.”

He added that the mission introduced improvements such as a solid motor hydro system and India’s high electro-mechanical activator for the first time, marking a significant step for the Gaganyaan programme and boosting confidence in its future success. The BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite, developed by the US-based AST SpaceMobile, was launched successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 8:55 AM IST. The satellite aims to provide high-speed cellular broadband directly to smartphones worldwide.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the mission, calling the LVM3-M6 launch a major milestone in India’s space journey. In posts on X, he noted that the launch, which placed the heaviest satellite from India into orbit, strengthens India’s heavy-lift launch capabilities, advances the country’s role in the global commercial launch market, and reflects efforts toward an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

PM Modi further emphasized that the reliable performance of the LVM3 rocket lays the groundwork for upcoming missions like Gaganyaan, expands commercial launch opportunities, and strengthens global partnerships. He highlighted that these advancements, powered by India’s youth, will enhance self-reliance and benefit future generations.