The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that its LVM3-M6 mission is set for liftoff on December 24, 2025, at 08:54 IST. The heavy-lift rocket will launch from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota.
India’s Most Powerful Rocket
The LVM3, also called Gaganyaan’s designated launch vehicle, is ISRO’s most powerful rocket, capable of carrying high-mass and high-value payloads into orbit. This mission will carry the Bluebird-6 communication satellite for US-based AST SpaceMobile, under a commercial agreement facilitated by New Space India Limited (NSIL).
Public Viewing Opportunity
Members of the public can witness the launch in person from the Launch View Gallery at SDSC SHAR. Interested visitors can register online via ISRO’s official portal: https://lvg.shar.gov.in/VSCREGISTRATION/index.jsp.
Commercial and Human Spaceflight Milestones
Union Minister Jitendra Singh highlighted that the mission underscores ISRO’s growing role as a commercial launch provider, with Indian rockets increasingly used for international satellite deployments. Beyond commercial missions, the LVM3 is central to India’s human spaceflight plans.
Early next year, the human-rated version of LVM3 will carry the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, featuring the humanoid robot Vyommitra aboard the crew module. This mission will test the full sequence of a human spaceflight, including liftoff, orbital operations, re-entry, and crew module recovery. Singh emphasized that the mission will demonstrate aerodynamic performance, orbital operations, and safe recovery procedures.
A second uncrewed Gaganyaan mission is scheduled later in 2026, paving the way for India’s goal of sending astronauts into low Earth orbit by 2027.
