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ISRO launches heaviest foreign satellite ever from Indian soil
SRIHARIKOTA: India’s space agency delivered a festive showstopper on Christmas Eve, thundering its most powerful rocket off the pad and lifting the heaviest foreign satellite ever launched from Indian soil into low Earth orbit.
At 8.55 am IST, ISRO’s LVM3 heavy-lift launcher rose from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, carrying AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird Block-2, a massive 6.5-tonne communications satellite built to beam broadband straight to ordinary smartphones.
The mission, LVM3-M6, marked the sixth operational flight of the rocket and Isro’s 101st orbital success. It was executed as a fully commercial launch for US-based AST SpaceMobile through NewSpace India Limited, underscoring India’s growing clout in the global launch market.
Nicknamed Bahubali for its sheer heft, the 640-tonne, 43.5-metre-tall launcher performed textbook precision. Twin S200 solid boosters, the L110 liquid core and the C25 cryogenic upper stage worked in seamless sequence to inject the satellite into a 520 to 600 km low Earth orbit, with orbital dispersion of less than 2 km.
In a post-launch address, ISRO chief said the mission set a new benchmark for Indian launch capability, calling the performance among the best achieved anywhere in the world.
The payload itself is a technological bruiser. BlueBird Block-2 carries a 223 sq metre phased-array antenna designed to deliver 4G and 5G connectivity directly to unmodified mobile phones, promising coverage in remote and underserved regions without relying on ground towers. AST SpaceMobile described the deployment as a major step towards a space-based cellular network to rival Starlink.
The launch capped a busy year for the LVM3, following high-profile missions including Chandrayaan-3 and OneWeb constellation deployments, as well as a November flight that placed India’s heaviest naval communications satellite in orbit.
For India, the success sharpens its edge as a reliable commercial launch provider. With Gaganyaan crewed missions on the horizon and foreign customers lining up, the message was clear as the rocket’s plume lit up the Andhra skies: India is no longer just launching satellites, it is muscling its way to the front rank of global space commerce.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
