ISRO

This Week in Explainers: Why a free trade agreement with New Zealand is good news for India

India has successfully concluded negotiations with New Zealand on a Free Trade Agreement, with PM Modi and his counterpart in Wellington saying it is expected to double bilateral trade in five years. We take a closer look at the trade pact and its benefits, and much more in our weekly roundup

Why Isro’s heaviest-ever satellite launch is significant

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Wednesday (December 24) successfully launched the LVM-3 rocket that placed the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite into orbit. Designed by the US company AST SpaceMobile, the satellite, weighing nearly 6,100 kg, is the ‘heaviest satellite ever lifted from Indian soil using an Indian launcher’. The successful launch has established India’s expanding role in the global commercial launch market

BlueBird Block-2 launched: At 6,100 kg, Isro’s LVM3 puts its heaviest satellite into low Earth orbit

Isro’s LVM3 rocket delivered the 6,100 kg BlueBird Block-2 satellite into a 518.5 km orbit, marking its heaviest payload launch and the mission’s second LVM3 flight within 52 days.

FirstUp: Isro LVM3-M6 mission to launch and other headlines of the day

Isro is set to launch its LVM3-M6 BlueBird Block-2 mission from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. This will be the sixth operational flight of India’s heaviest rocket, LVM3. Pope Leo XIV will preside over the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass at St Peter's Basilica, marking his first Christmas as Pontiff. Meanwhile, Thailand and Cambodia will hold high-level defence talks to resolve their border issues

Alaknanda: How Indian astronomers found a Milky Way-like galaxy

Indian astronomers have identified a surprisingly mature, Milky Way-like galaxy from the universe’s early era. Named Alaknanda, the spiral system — visible thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope and gravitational lensing — formed just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang. Its structure challenges long-standing theories about when well-organised galaxies first emerged

FirstUp: Hungary’s Orban to meet Trump and other headlines of the day

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss a path to seek an exemption from US energy sanctions. Also, US flight cuts will begin today amid the government shutdown. After meeting the Pope, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas is set to visit Rome, where he will hold talks with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni

Isro’s ‘Bahubali’ rocket lifts off from Sriharikota with heaviest CMS-03 satellite on board

Isro on Sunday successfully launched its heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03, aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket — nicknamed ‘Bahubali’ — from Sriharikota. The launch marks a major step toward India’s self-reliance in heavy-lift space missions.

GSAT 7R: ISRO to launch India's heaviest communication satellite from Sriharikota

The GSAT 7R weighs a massive 4,400 kilogrammes, making it the heaviest communication satellite the nation has developed so far

India eyes to deploy ‘bodyguard’ satellites to protect spacecraft, counter threats in space: Report

India is reportedly working on a plan to develop “bodyguard” satellites and advanced tracking systems to protect its spacecraft

Gaganyaan mission | Women, people outside IAF to be part of astronaut pool India plans to create: Report

India is all set to create a pool of astronauts to take part in the future human flight mission. The pool would not be restricted to only Air Force personnel and would also include women astronauts.