In its most significant commercial feat to date, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the 6.1-tonne BlueBird Block-2 satellite, marking the heaviest payload ever lifted by an Indian rocket.
India’s heavy-lift rocket, the LVM3-M6, successfully blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Wednesday (24 December) at 8:55 AM IST. The mission, done under a commercial agreement with US-based AST SpaceMobile, placed the massive BlueBird Block-2 (also known as BlueBird 6) communication satellite into its intended Low Earth Orbit about 15 minutes after liftoff.
The BlueBird Block-2 is a next-generation “direct-to-mobile” satellite designed to provide 4G and 5G cellular broadband directly to standard smartphones worldwide without needing specialized ground hardware.
- Record-Breaking Payload: Weighing 6,100 kg, the satellite is the heaviest payload ever put into orbit by the LVM3, beating the previous record of 5,796 kg set during the OneWeb mission.
- Massive Phased Array: The satellite features a huge 223-square-meter phased array antenna, the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in LEO, letting it communicate directly with mobile devices from space.
- Mission Flawless: The 43.5-meter-tall “Bahubali” rocket performed perfectly through all three stages, including the ignition of the S200 solid boosters and the high-thrust C25 cryogenic upper stage.
“This mission marks our first dedicated commercial launch for a U.S. customer. With the injection of the 6.1-tonne BlueBird Block-2, the LVM3 has cemented its track record of 100% reliability,” ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said after the successful orbit injection.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the achievement on social media, saying: “The successful LVM3-M6 launch reinforces India’s heavy-lift capability and our growing role in the global commercial launch market. A proud milestone in our journey toward an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
The launch was handled by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO. This mission represents a shift for India from being a small-satellite launcher to a major player in the heavy-lift global market. The BlueBird constellation aims to bridge the digital divide by providing high-speed data, video calling, and text services to remote and rural areas where traditional cell towers don’t exist.
With this 9th consecutive success for the LVM3, ISRO is now looking toward the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program and future heavy-lift missions. AST SpaceMobile plans to launch more Block-2 satellites through 2026 to achieve continuous global mobile coverage.
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