India’s heaviest launch vehicle LVM-3, in its third commercial mission, placed US communication satellite Bluebird Block-2 in a precise orbit early Wednesday morning. Weighing around 6,100 kg, it was the heaviest satellite launched by an Indian rocket, The Indian Express reported. 

“This (the LVM3-M6 mission) was the ninth consecutive successful launch for LVM-3, demonstrating a 100% reliability… The satellite was placed with less than 2-km deviation from the planned orbit, which is one of the best performances among launch vehicles in the global arena… This gives us great confidence for the Gaganyaan mission,” said ISROchairperson V Narayanan after the successful launch.

A modified version of the same launch vehicle — a human-rated version with more safety — will carry Indian astronauts to space, according to The Indian Express.