ISRO to launch heaviest US satellite from SHAR Range on Dec 15

Chennai, Dec. 12 -- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearingup for the launch of heaviest payload thus far--the Bluebird-6, a US licensed satellite,into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using its heaviest rocket LVM3 from the spaceportof SHAR Range, Sriharikota on December 15.

In an exclusive commercial mission, the satellite would be launched from the SecondLaunch Pad and full-fledged launch preparations are underway at the Satish DhawanSpace Centre (SDSC).

After the Launch Authorisation Board cleared the mission, the countdown wasexpected to commence on December 14 for propellant filling operations in thethree-stage launch vehicle, which has so far ensured 100 per cent success rate.

BlueBird-6 was built at AST SpaceMobile's he...