Satellite

Why LVM3-M6 BlueBird Block-2 mission is a milestone for Isro: Details

The LVM3-M6 BlueBird Block-2 is a commercial mission launched by Isro using its LVM3 rocket to place a heavy communication satellite into low Earth orbit

Isro's LVM3 rocket places US communication satellite into low earth orbit

In a dedicated commercial mission, ISRO on Wednesday launched a next-generation US communication satellite BlueBird Block-2 onboard its heaviest vehicle LVM3-M6 from here. As the 24-hour countdown concluded, the 43.5 metre tall rocket supported by two S200 solid boosters lifted off majestically at 8.55 am from the second launch pad at this spaceport, situated about 135 km east of Chennai. After a flight journey of about 15 minutes, the spacecraft BlueBird Block-2 riding piggyback on the rocket, is expected to get separated and reach its intended orbit at an altitude of about 520 km, ISRO said. The mission is being undertaken as part of the commercial agreement signed between NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) and US-based AST SpaceMobile (AST and Science, LLC). NewSpace India Ltd is the commercial arm of ISRO. BlueBird Block-2 mission is part of the global LEO (Low Earth Orbit) constellation to provide direct-to-mobile connectivity through satellite. This constellation would enable 4G and

My goal is to ensure every dark spot in India is lit up by satcom: Scindia

Scindia was replying to a question on the government stand on spectrum charges that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) should pay for its global satellite phone service (GSPS)

Satellites missing most farm fires in Punjab and Haryana, says report

More than 90 per cent of large farm fires in Punjab and Haryana are now going undetected by the official monitoring systems as farmers are shifting stubble-burning activities to late afternoons, according to a new analysis published on Monday. The Stubble Burning Status Report 2025 by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST) said this led to major underestimation of the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's air pollution this year. iFOREST said the government's current monitoring protocol, run by the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS) of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, is unable to detect most farm fires as it relies mainly on polar-orbiting satellites that observe India only between 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. This narrow time window no longer matches farmers' burning practices, it said. At the same time, the report finds real progress on the ground, with burnt areas in Punjab and

GPS-spoofing is now a global threat, so what are nations doing to fight it?

As GPS-spoofing disrupts flights, networks and navigation systems worldwide, governments are accelerating efforts to build new PNT backups to secure critical infrastructure

Spacetech startup Grahaa gets approval to launch nanosatellite from Brazil

Bengaluru-based company moves to validate its systems ahead of a larger satellite constellation rollout

Apple may soon let iPhone users share photos, navigate, more via satellite

Apple is reportedly developing new satellite features for iPhones, including navigation in Apple Maps, photo sharing in Messages, 5G satellite connectivity, and third-party app integration

Google launches Project Suncatcher to test AI data centres in space

The project envisions a network of small satellites, each equipped with Google's custom-designed Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) chips

NISAR satellite to be declared operational on November 7: ISRO chief

NASA and ISRO are all set to declare their first-ever jointly developed NISAR satellite operational on Friday, ISRO chairman V Narayanan said here on Wednesday. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), said to be the most expensive Earth observation satellite ever built, has the ability to monitor most of the planet's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days. The 2,400 kg NISAR satellite was launched on July 30 from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre using the GSLV rocket. "Entire data calibration has been completed, and we will have a conclave on November 7 to declare the satellite operational," Narayanan said at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) here. The NISAR mission is the first to carry two SAR systems the L-Band and S-Band sensors. The L-band radar can penetrate forest canopies and measure soil moisture, forest biomass, and the motion of land and ice surfaces. The S-band radar is more sensitive to small vegetation, and can observe cer

PM Modi, V-P Radhakrishnan laud Isro on launch of heaviest satellite

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday congratulated ISRO scientists on the successful launch of the heaviest communication satellite from Indian soil. The prime minister's remarks came soon after ISRO placed the 4,410 kg CMS-03 satellite in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) using an LVM-3 rocket. "Our space sector continues to make us proud! Congratulations ISRO on the successful launch of India's heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03," Modi said in a post on X. Besides placing the satellite in the desired orbit, ISRO scientists also demonstrated the re-ignition of the thrust chamber of the C-25 cryogenic engine after it placed the satellite in the orbit. The experiment will help ISRO restart the cryogenic stage and give it the flexibility to place satellites in different orbits. "Powered by our space scientists, it is commendable how our space sector has become synonymous with excellence and innovation. Their successes have furthered

Isro's LVM3-M5 rocket with 'heaviest' communication satellite lifts off

An ISRO heavylift rocket with communication satellite CMS-03, the 'heaviest' to be carried by an Indian launch vehicle and into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), lifted off from the spaceport here on Sunday. After the 24 hour countdown concluded, the 43.5 metre tall rocket soared into the skies at the prefixed time of 5.26 pm from the second launch pad at this spaceport, about 135 km from Chennai, emanating bright orange coloured fumes on its tail. The satellite riding piggyback on the LVM3-M5 rocket, after a flight journey of about 16-20 minutes, is expected to be separated upon reaching an altitude of about 180 km, ISRO said. The CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite that would provide services over a wide oceanic region including the Indian landmass, ISRO said. It is the heaviest satellite to be carried by a domestic rocket, launched from the Indian soil and into the GTO. The Indian space agency has been utilizing the Kourou launch base in French Guiana for ...

Isro to launch CMS-03 communication satellite on Nov 2 with LVM3

The ISRO on Sunday said its LVM3 launch vehicle is scheduled to lift off with the CMS-03 communication satellite on November 2, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. "India's LVM3 launch vehicle is scheduled to launch the CMS-03 communication satellite in its fifth operational flight (LVM3-M5) on November 2, 2025," ISRO said in a statement. According to the space agency, CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite designed to provide services across a wide oceanic region, including the Indian landmass. Weighing about 4,400 kg, it will be the heaviest communication satellite to be launched to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian soil. "The previous mission of LVM3 launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission, wherein India became the first country to land successfully near the lunar south pole," ISRO added. ISRO further said that the launch vehicle has been fully assembled and integrated with the spacecraft and was moved to the launch pad on October 26 for final ..

Starlink plans 9 earth stations across India ahead of satcom launch

The Elon Musk-owned company has been given temporary permission to use some radio spectrum to test its systems and meet security requirements

Nelco focuses on remote areas, not competing with terrestrial players: MD

Direct-to-device services are also on cards, albeit at later time, since company has a tie-up with US-based Omnispace to provide 5G satellite-based direct-to-device services, signed back in 2022

GalaxEye to launch world's first multi-sensor EO satellite in 2026

This latest development underscores GalaxEye's commitment to revolutionizing the Earth Observation technology through its proprietary SyncFused Opto-SAR technology

Excited, focused on giving secure experience: Starlink exec on India plans

Starlink is "excited" and fully focused on being ready to offer Indians a secure, compliant, and high-quality broadband experience, Starlink's India market access director Parnil Urdhwareshe said on Wednesday. The comment assumes significance given the growing public anticipation over satcom rollout in India with prominent companies including billionaire Elon Musk-owned Starlink, Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, and Reliance Jio-SES, keenly eyeing the high-stakes game of broadband beamed from Indian skies. Urdhwareshe praised extensive government efforts, citing coordination across the Ministry of Communications, TRAI, DOS, InSpace, and DPIIT. "We're just focused on being ready to provide Indians who want that option with a compliant, secure and great experience. And we're really excited with all of the fantastic work that the government is doing, and you see this in concert across the Ministry of Communications, the TRAI, the DoS (Department of Space), InSpace, the DPIIT, everybody'

Chabahar centre 93% complete, ready for satellite launch: Iran minister

The Chabahar centre, dedicated to medium-heavy liquid-fueled launch vehicles, is Iran's national space launch site and one of several bases currently under construction

Iran likely conducted an undeclared missile test, satellite photos show

Iran has likely carried out an undeclared missile test at its Imam Khomeini Spaceport, satellite photos analysed by The Associated Press showed Thursday, underlining Tehran's effort to maintain its weapons programme despite the 12-day war with Israel in June. Iran has not formally acknowledged the test last week, carried out at a circular pad that has hosted other major launches by the country's civilian space programme. A single lawmaker in Iran's parliament, however, claimed, without offering evidence, that Tehran tested a possible intercontinental ballistic missile. The test and the claim raise concerns that Iran may be trying to expanding the reach of its missiles as tensions remain high ahead of United Nations sanctions, which are likely to be reimposed this weekend over Tehran's nuclear programme as it also repairs missile sites that were struck by the Israelis. Israel's successes in the 12-day war against Iran's missile attacks reinforced for Tehran the importance of ...

Govt plans 'bodyguard' satellites after risky near-miss in orbit

The government wants to develop so-called bodyguard satellites to identify and counter threats to orbiting spacecraft

India's space startups team up to share skills and expertise, minimise risk

What stood out was the group's zero-cost bid. Though the government is offering up to ₹350 crore in financial support, these companies have opted to bear the entire investment themselves