Dhaka, Dec. 25 -- India on Tuesday successfully launched its heaviest-ever satellite, BlueBird 6, into orbit using the 'Baahubali' rocket, Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)-M6, from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. The satellite, developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile, aims to provide direct broadband connectivity from space to ordinary smartphones without requiring any special equipment.

The 43.5-metre tall rocket, supported by two S200 solid boosters, lifted off at 8:55 am from the second launch pad. After a flight of approximately 15 minutes, the BlueBird Block-2 satellite separated from the rocket and reached its intended orbit at about 520 km above Earth.

Dr V Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman,...