ISRO successfully launches Bluebird Block 2 satellite from Sriharikota

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday carried out the successful lift off of the LVM3-M6 mission from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh,marking another milestone in India’s commercial spaceflight programme.The 43.5-metre-tall LVM3-M6 rocket lifted off at 8.54 am from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. After a flight lasting around 15 minutes, the spacecraft — BlueBird Block-2 — separated smoothly from the launch vehicle and was accurately placed into its intended Low Earth Orbt (LEO), ISRO confirmed.
The Bengaluru-headquartered space agency said the mission was executed flawlessly, with the satellite injected into orbit as planned. The launch was undertaken as part of a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, and US-based AST SpaceMobile (AST & Science LLC).Weighing about 6,100 kg, BlueBird Block-2 is the heaviest payload ever deployed into LEO by the LVM3 from Indian soil. The earlier record was held by the LVM3-M5 mission, which launched a 4,400-kg communication satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) in November.The BlueBird Block-2 mission is part of a global LEO constellation aimed at enabling direct-to-mobile satellite connectivity. Once fully operational, the network is expected to support 4G and 5G voice and video calls, messaging, data services and streaming, providing seamless coverage anytime and anywhere.
AST SpaceMobile is developing what it describes as the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network that can connect directly with standard smartphones, without the need for specialised hardware. The system is designed for both commercial and government use.The LVM3-M6, also known as the GSLV-MkIII, is a three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle equipped with a cryogenic upper stage developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. It uses two powerful S200 solid rocket boosters, built by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, to generate the massive thrust required at liftoff.According to AST SpaceMobile, the company had earlier launched five satellites — BlueBird 1 to 5 — in September 2024, enabling continuous coverage across the United States and select other regions. It plans further launches to expand its network and has partnerships with more than 50 mobile operators worldwide.The LVM3-M6 mission marks the sixth operational flight of the LVM3 and the third dedicated commercial mission for deploying BlueBird satellites. ISRO noted that the LVM3 vehicle has built an impressive track record, with eight consecutive successful launches, including the landmark Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 lunar missions.