India space agency launches its heaviest satellite

India's space agency launched its heaviest ever payload on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the deployment "a significant stride" for the space sector. The LVM3-M6 rocket launched the US-built AST Space Mobile communications satellite into low-Earth orbit. 

 V Narayanan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said "This is the heaviest satellite ever lifted from Indian soil using an Indian launcher. This is also the third fully commercial mission of LVM3 and the vehicle has demonstrated its excellent track record."

The launch is a boost for India's ambitious low-cost space programme, with plans for an uncrewed orbital mission and human spaceflight in the coming years.