India places 6,100 kg communication satellite into low-Earth orbit
India has achieved a major milestone in its space
journey with the successful launch of the heaviest satellite ever deployed from
Indian territory, underscoring the rapid progress of its space program.
The Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday placed a 6,100-kilogram
communications satellite into low-Earth orbit using its LVM3-M6 launch vehicle.
Built by US-based AST SpaceMobile, the satellite is the largest payload India
has ever sent into space.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the mission
as a landmark achievement, calling it a significant boost to India’s space
ambitions. He said the launch enhances the country’s heavy-lift launch
capabilities and highlights its expanding role in the global commercial space
market.
According to ISRO, the mission represents the
heaviest payload ever launched from Indian soil and was enabled by upgrades to
the LVM3 rocket. The enhanced vehicle is expected to support both future
uncrewed and crewed missions.
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The successful launch is also expected to strengthen India’s position in the fast-growing satellite communications sector, driven by rising global demand for advanced mobile and internet connectivity.
Earlier this year, ISRO launched the CMS-03
communications satellite, which weighed around 4,410 kilograms. The latest
mission significantly surpasses that record.
Over the past decade, India has steadily
expanded its space capabilities, carrying out complex missions at comparatively
lower costs than many established spacefaring nations. The country plans to
conduct an uncrewed orbital mission ahead of its first human spaceflight,
currently scheduled for 2027.
Looking
ahead, Prime Minister Modi has also outlined India’s long-term goal of landing
an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040, signaling an ambitious future for the
nation’s space exploration efforts.
Source: thediplomaticinsight.com