ISRO successfully launches US Satellite as Chandrayaan-4 and 5 get government clearance

India’s space agency, ISRO, marked a significant achievement on Christmas Eve with the successful launch of a US communication satellite using its heavy-lift rocket, LVM3-M6. The satellite was deployed into low Earth orbit, strengthening India’s growing role in global commercial space launches.

ISRO officials confirmed that the BlueBird Block-2 satellite was accurately placed in its planned orbit. The mission adds to the country’s expanding list of successful international launch services.

BlueBird Block-2 will form part of a low Earth orbit satellite network aimed at providing direct mobile connectivity. The system is expected to offer 4G and 5G services worldwide, enabling calls, messaging, video streaming, and internet access even in hard-to-reach regions.

The launch was carried out under a commercial partnership between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, and US-based AST SpaceMobile.

Meanwhile, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan announced that the Government of India has approved both the Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 lunar missions. Referring to the success of Chandrayaan-3, which achieved a historic soft landing near the Moon’s south pole, Narayanan said India had set a global benchmark in lunar exploration.

He explained that Chandrayaan-4 will focus on landing on the Moon, collecting samples, and returning them to Earth for scientific study. The complex mission will require two launch vehicles. Narayanan also highlighted space docking as one of ISRO’s major technological achievements this year, noting that the successful connection of two spacecraft represents a key step toward future deep-space missions.

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