India's LVM3 Rocket Launches US Satellite, Outcompeting West on Cost & Reliability

• ISRO's LVM3 rocket successfully launched US Comsat BlueBird Block-2 for AST SpaceMobile, marking India's growing role in global commercial space.
• BlueBird Block-2, weighing 6100 kg, is the largest commercial communications satellite and heaviest payload ever launched from Indian soil.
• India offers significantly lower launch costs (LVM3 at ~$52M) compared to US rockets like SpaceX's Falcon Heavy ($90-150M) or ULA's Atlas V ($109-153M).
• Lower costs stem from India's manufacturing/labor expenses and ISRO's non-profit, government-run framework, unlike Western private-sector models.
• LVM3's proven reliability (Chandrayaan missions, OneWeb, BlueBird Block-2) and NSIL's commercial interface make India a compelling option for heavy satellite launches.

Why It Matters: India's LVM3 offers a cost-effective, reliable alternative for heavy satellite launches, reshaping the global space market.