Bluebird 2 takes flight today, strengthening ISRO’s commercial space strategy

India’s ISRO successfully launched the heavy-lift LVM3-M6 rocket at 8:55 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, carrying AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird Block-2 satellite. This mission marks the sixth operational flight of the LVM3 rocket and sets a new record, as the 6,100-kg BlueBird Block-2 becomes the heaviest payload LVM3 has placed into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), surpassing the previous CMS-03 satellite at 4,400 kg.

Under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and AST SpaceMobile, the satellite is expected to separate from the rocket about 15 minutes after liftoff and reach its designated orbit at approximately 600 km. ISRO chairman V. Narayanan, who offered prayers at Tirumala’s Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple earlier this week, oversees the launch.

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ISRO’s LVM3-M6 Rocket Powers Commercial Satellite Launch for AST SpaceMobile

The LVM3, also known as GSLV Mk III, stands 43.5 meters tall and consists of two S200 solid strap-on boosters, an L110 liquid core stage, and a C25 cryogenic upper stage. With a lift-off mass of 640 tonnes, it is ISRO’s most powerful operational rocket.

BlueBird Block-2 is part of AST SpaceMobile’s global LEO constellation, designed to provide space-based cellular broadband to standard smartphones without any specialized hardware. The satellite features a 223-square-metre phased-array antenna, making it the largest commercial communications satellite ever deployed in LEO. It will enable 4G and 5G calls, video streaming, text messaging, and internet connectivity worldwide.

AST SpaceMobile has already launched five BlueBird satellites in September 2024 and collaborates with over 50 mobile operators globally. LVM3 has previously powered major missions, including Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb launches carrying 72 satellites, making this commercial launch another significant milestone for India’s space capabilities.

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