Heaviest Satellite Launch by ISRO

On 24th December 2025, India’s heavy-lift launcher LVM3-M6, popularly known as the “Baahubali” rocket, successfully placed BlueBird Block-2 belonging to AST SpaceMobile Inc. (USA) into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, further strengthening India’s position in the global heavy-launch market.

About LVM3

Aspect	Details
Full Form	LVM3 stands for Launch Vehicle Mark-3, formerly known as GSLV Mk III.
Nickname	Commonly referred to as the “Baahubali” rocket because of its heavy-lift capability.
Vehicle Structure	A three-stage launch vehicle with two solid strap-on motors, a liquid core stage, and a cryogenic upper stage (C25).
Technical Specifications	Lift-off mass of 642 tonnes, height of 43.5 metres.
Payload Capacity	Can carry 4,200 kg to GTO and 10,000 kg to LEO.
Major Missions	Successfully launched Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb missions carrying 72 satellites.
CMS-03 Mission	The CMS-03 mission was successfully launched on 2nd November 2025.

RAMBHA-LP Payload

The Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere–Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP), onboard the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3, measured the electron density and temperature of near-surface lunar plasma.

PT Facts

LVM3: India’s heaviest operational launch vehicle.
Chandrayaan-3: Successfully launched using the LVM3 rocket.
GTO & LEO: GTO is used mainly for communication satellites, while LEO supports Earth observation and experimental missions.
Cryogenic Engines: Use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants.

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