SRIHARIKOTA (Andhra Pradesh), Dec 24: In a landmark Christmas Eve mission, ISRO’s heaviest launch vehicle, LVM3-M6, on Wednesday successfully placed a US communication satellite BlueBird Block-2 into its intended Low Earth Orbit (LEO), marking a major milestone in India’s commercial spaceflight programme.
The Bengaluru-headquartered space agency said the mission was executed flawlessly, with the 6,100-kg BlueBird Block-2 satellite separating from the launch vehicle about 15 minutes after liftoff and being accurately injected into orbit.
Standing 43.5 metres tall, the LVM3-M6 rocket lifted off at 8.54 am from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. The mission was carried out under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) ISRO’s commercial arm and US based AST SpaceMobile (AST & Science, LLC).
BlueBird Block-2 is part of a global LEO constellation aimed at providing direct to mobile satellite connectivity. Once fully deployed, the network will enable 4G and 5G voice and video calls, messaging, streaming and data services directly on smartphones, without the need for specialised satellite hardware.
ISRO said the satellite is the heaviest payload ever placed into Low Earth Orbit by the LVM3 from Indian soil. The previous record was held by the LVM3-M5 mission, which launched a 4,400 kg communication satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on November 2.
AST SpaceMobile is developing what it describes as the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard smartphones, catering to both commercial and government users. The company had earlier launched five BlueBird satellites in September 2024, providing continuous coverage across the United States and select other regions, and plans further launches to expand its network.
The LVM3-M6, also known as the GSLV-Mk III, is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle equipped with a cryogenic engine developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. It uses two S200 solid rocket boosters, developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, to generate the massive thrust required at liftoff.
This was the sixth operational flight of the LVM3 and its third dedicated commercial mission for launching the BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft. ISRO noted that the LVM3 has now completed eight consecutive successful missions, including the landmark Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 lunar explorations.