LVM3-M6 carrying the BlueBird Block-2 satellite
Why in news?
The ISRO LVM3-M6 mission successfully launched the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite for AST SpaceMobile on December 24, 2025, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota.
Mission Highlights
- Rocket Used: LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), nicknamed Baahubali, ISRO’s heaviest rocket
- Payload: BlueBird Block-2 satellite, weighing 6,100 kg – the heaviest payload ever launched from Indian soil
- Customer: AST SpaceMobile (USA), under a commercial deal with NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL)
- Orbit: Injected into a 520 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) about 15 minutes after liftoff
- Purpose: To provide direct-to-smartphone cellular broadband connectivity worldwide, even in remote areas
- Technology: Features a 223 m² phased-array antenna, making it the largest commercial communications satellite ever deployed in LEO
Mission Significance
| Feature |
Details |
| Mission Number |
6th operational flight of LVM3 |
| Payload Record |
Heaviest satellite (6,100 kg) launched by ISRO |
| Commercial Impact |
Strengthens India’s role in the global space launch market |
| Applications |
Space-based 5G broadband, direct-to-mobile connectivity |
| Past LVM3 Missions |
Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, OneWeb satellites |
About BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite
- Operator: AST SpaceMobile, USA
- Launch Vehicle: ISRO’s LVM3-M6 (also called "Bahubali" rocket)
- Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
- Mass: 6,100 kg (record-breaking payload for India)
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Mission Type: Dedicated commercial mission by ISRO’s NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL)
Purpose & Capabilities of BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite
- Direct-to-Device Connectivity: Enables space-based cellular broadband services directly to regular mobile phones, bypassing terrestrial cell towers.
- Global Coverage: Designed to provide high-speed internet access worldwide, especially in remote or underserved regions.
- Commercial Collaboration: Part of ISRO’s growing role in international satellite launches, strengthening India’s position in the global space market.
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