India space agency launches its heaviest satellite / Photo: R. Satish BABU - AFP
-
American businesswoman Michele Kang buys French club Lyon
-
South Korea coach bereft of answers with World Cup hopes on knife-edge
-
Lebanon, Israel, US sign trilateral framework agreement in Washington
-
Mistrial declared in deadly Los Angeles fire case
-
Antonelli scores 'double top' for Mercedes as Russell warns of McLaren threat
-
Verstappen wants to stay at Red Bull – in a fast car, says Mekies
-
Australia eye 'something special' after reaching World Cup last 32
-
Usyk says vacating heavyweight world title belts
-
Germany sees hottest temperature on record of 41.3C: weather service
-
AI abuse deterring good MPs: incoming IPU chief
-
More than 50,000 missing after Venezuela quakes, death toll soars
-
Japan say bring on Brazil at World Cup but wary of revenge mission
-
Caudullo challenges Montpellier to be 'watertight' against Dupont threat
-
Stocks recover from tech tremors as oil prices fall
-
Venezuela earthquakes toll soars to 589 amid desperate rescue effort
-
How heatwaves are dangerous to human health
-
Europe heatwave shattering temperature records: UN
-
UK hottest June day record broken for third day in a row: Met Office
-
Farm workers wilt in sweltering Italian shanty town
-
Tech jitters send stocks lower, oil prices fall
-
Keys to face Maria in Eastbourne final
-
Venezuela earthquakes toll doubles amid desperate rescue efforts
-
Caudullo challenges Montpellier to be 'watertight' against Dupont
-
Mercedes dominate opening practice at Austrian GP
-
Osaka sinks Wang to reach first grass court final
-
Wawrinka announces farewell fete with Federer and Murray
-
UN demands probes into US ICE custody deaths
-
Lukashenko will always be threat to Ukraine: Belarus opposition leader
-
Stokes strikes as New Zealand make England feel the heat
-
European heatwave's unlikely accomplice: an ocean 'cold blob'
-
Lyles enjoying freedom to focus on speed and stuff off the track
-
Japan's progress paying off at World Cup, says Troussier
-
How the British royal family is funded, and where the money goes
-
Dozens of international teams rushing to Venezuela: UN
-
Russia-annexed Crimea declares 'emergency' amid Ukraine strikes
-
Floods kill two in Taiwan as twin storms approach Japan
-
Stocks slide on renewed tech slump, oil prices fall
-
In the heat, Ivorians don't think twice about using aircon
-
EU hits France's Sanofi with flu vaccine antitrust probe
-
Belgium cancels Waterloo battle reenactment due to heat
-
Europe heatwave swamps hospitals, halts parties
-
Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch postponed indefinitely
-
MEXC Reports 142% Volume Surge for MU Futures Following Record Micron Earnings Beat
-
Four injured, flights cancelled in Japan as twin storms approach
-
Serena Williams to face Joint in Wimbledon return after four-year absence
-
Russia pulls team from gymnastics World Cup event over flag row
-
UN says Iran nuclear pledge needs 'very strong' verification
-
New Zealand internal report warns of Chinese military forays in Pacific
-
Mexico's Sheinbaum and Spanish king use World Cup to mend diplomatic rift
-
Mbappe v Haaland as France face Norway in World Cup group decider
India space agency launches its heaviest satellite
India launched its heaviest ever communication satellite on Sunday, the latest step in the country's ambitious space programme.
The CMS-03 satellite blasted off from Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh at 5:26 pm (1156 GMT).
"Our space sector continues to make us proud!" said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wants to send an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
Weighing about 4,410 kilograms (9,722 pounds), it is "the heaviest communication satellite" launched in the country, the Indian Space Research Organisation said Thursday.
The Indian Navy said the satellite would help "secure communication links between ships, aircraft, submarines".
The CMS-03 satellite was sent into orbit from the towering 43.5 metre (143 foot) tall LVM3-M5 launch vehicle.
It is an upgraded version of the rocket that launched India's unmanned craft that landed on the Moon in August 2023.
Only Russia, the United States and China have previously achieved a controlled landing on the lunar surface.
The country has flexed its spacefaring ambitions in the last decade, with its space programme growing considerably in size and momentum.
Shubhanshu Shukla, a test pilot with the Indian Air Force, this year became the second Indian to travel to space and the first to reach the International Space Station -- a key step towards India's own crewed mission planned for 2027.
M.A.Vaz--PC
