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NEW DELHI: India’s space agency successfully launched its heaviest payload to date on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the event “a major milestone” for the country’s space program.
The LVM3-M6 rocket carried a US-manufactured AST SpaceMobile satellite into low-Earth orbit.
According to ISRO, this was the “heaviest payload to be launched from Indian soil.”
This launch exemplifies India’s commitment to low-cost space exploration, with plans for both uncrewed orbital missions and human spaceflight in the upcoming years.
The satellite, weighing 6,100 kilograms (13,448 pounds), was launched using an upgraded version of the rocket India intends to use for future missions.
India is increasingly competing in the expanding commercial satellite market, where telecommunications, internet services, and tech companies seek more advanced and high-capacity communication solutions.
Modi stated that the launch was “a proud chapter in India’s space journey,” emphasizing how it enhances India’s heavy-lift capabilities and solidifies its presence in the global commercial launch industry.
Earlier this year, ISRO launched the CMS-03 communication satellite, which weighs roughly 4,410 kilograms.
India has upgraded its rockets, deploying an enhanced version of the one used for the August 2023 Moon mission, to support these hefty payloads.
Over the past decade, India has shown impressive growth in space exploration, rivaling established space powers at significantly lower costs.
The country aims to launch an uncrewed orbital mission before sending its first humans into space by 2027.
Additionally, Modi announced plans to send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
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