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India launches its heaviest satellite, boosting space ambitions
India has successfully launched its heaviest satellite to date, marking a milestone for the country’s space program. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) deployed the US-built AST SpaceMobile communications satellite into low-Earth orbit on Wednesday using the LVM3-M6 rocket.
Weighing 6,100 kilograms, this satellite is the largest payload ever launched from Indian soil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the event as “a proud milestone in India’s space journey,” emphasizing that it strengthens the nation’s heavy-lift launch capability and enhances its position in the global commercial satellite market.
The launch underscores India’s ambitions in low-cost space exploration, with upcoming plans for an uncrewed orbital mission and human spaceflight. Earlier this year, ISRO launched the CMS-03 communications satellite, which weighed around 4,410 kilograms.
With decades of experience and competitive costs, India is increasingly competing with established space powers, while expanding its presence in the commercial satellite sector for telecommunications, internet, and other services. Modi has also outlined plans to send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
