ISRO successfully launches BlueBird Block-2 satellite from Sriharikota

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday successfully launched the LVM3-M6 rocket, carrying the United States’ next-generation BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite.

“Mission Success. The LVM3-M6 mission has successfully placed the BlueBird Block-2 satellite into its intended orbit,” ISRO said in a post on X.

Weighing 6,100 kg, the communication satellite is the heaviest payload ever placed into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by the LVM3 launch vehicle. 

The satellite is part of the next generation of BlueBird Block-2 communication satellites, designed to provide space-based cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard mobile smartphones.

The mission marked the sixth operational flight of the LVM3 launch vehicle and represents a significant leap in telecommunications technology, as the massive 6,100 kg payload is designed to deliver high-speed 4G and 5G connectivity directly to smartphones.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh congratulated ISRO on the successful mission, saying, “Kudos Team ISRO for the successful launch of LVM3-M6 carrying BlueBird Block-2. With the visionary patronage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ISRO continues to achieve one success after another, reiterating India’s growing prowess in space technology.”

The BlueBird communication satellite, developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile, was launched aboard India’s most powerful rocket, the LVM3. It is among the heaviest commercial satellites, weighing around 6.5 tonnes. The Low Earth Orbit satellite arrived in India from the United States on October 19.

This mission marks the second major collaboration between ISRO and the United States this year. In July, ISRO successfully launched the $1.5 billion NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, designed to conduct high-resolution Earth observations with the ability to penetrate fog, dense cloud cover, and ice layers.

AST SpaceMobile has already launched five satellites—BlueBird 1 to 5—in September 2024. As part of its plans to further expand the network, the company has partnered with more than 50 mobile operators worldwide.