In a profound intersection of scientific endeavour and deeply rooted cultural tradition, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launch team, headed by Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan and comprising senior scientists and engineers, made a solemn visit to the iconic Tirumala Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh to offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara, seeking divine blessings for the forthcoming high-stakes satellite mission.

This pilgrimage to the revered hill shrine, performed just days before the scheduled liftoff, continues ISRO's enduring practice observed over decades, where teams invoke celestial favour ahead of critical launches, symbolising a unique synergy between cutting-edge space technology and spiritual heritage that has characterised many of India's successful orbital ventures.

The mission in focus, designated LVM3-M6, is set for December 24, 2025, at 08:54 hours IST, with the robust Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3), often dubbed India's "Bahubali" rocket for its heavy-lift prowess, poised to roar from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, carrying the sophisticated BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite into a precise Low Earth Orbit.

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Standing 43.5 metres tall with a liftoff mass of approximately 640 tonnes, the LVM3 incorporates two solid strap-on boosters, a liquid core stage, and a cryogenic upper stage, and will deploy the 6,100 kg payload—the heaviest ever for this vehicle in LEO—into a circular orbit at around 520 kilometres altitude with a 53-degree inclination, marking the rocket's sixth operational flight and a dedicated commercial endeavour managed through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Engineered in collaboration with US-based AST SpaceMobile, the BlueBird Block-2 boasts one of the largest commercial phased arrays ever deployed, spanning 223 square metres, enabling unprecedented direct-to-device cellular broadband that supports 4G and 5G services—including voice calls, video streaming, messaging, and high-speed data—straight to unmodified smartphones worldwide, thereby addressing connectivity voids in remote areas and advancing global digital inclusion without reliance on terrestrial networks.

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