The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a milestone by launching BlueBird 6, the heaviest satellite to date, using its ‘Baahubali’ Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)-M6 rocket. BlueBird 6, a cutting-edge communications satellite from US innovator AST SpaceMobile, took off at 8:55 a.m. after a 24-hour countdown from the second launch pad near Chennai.
Following a 15-minute flight, the BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft, carried by the rocket, separated and reached its planned orbit at an altitude of around 520 km. This launch marks the second collaboration between the US and ISRO for satellites this year, with the previous being the successful launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission (NISAR) in July.
ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, speaking from Sriharikota, expressed delight over the successful launch, highlighting the precision in placing the BlueBird Block-2 satellite in its designated orbit. BlueBird 6, weighing 6,100 kg, is the heaviest payload ever deployed into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) during an LVM3 launch, surpassing the previous record set by the LVM3-M5 Communication Satellite 03.
The BlueBird Block-2 satellite is part of a new generation of communication satellites designed to offer direct space-based cellular broadband connectivity to standard mobile smartphones. AST SpaceMobile, the company behind this technology, has already launched five satellites and plans to expand its network in collaboration with over 50 mobile operators globally.
The successful mission of the LVM3 launch vehicle, which has now completed its sixth operational flight, signifies a significant advancement in telecommunications technology. This mission, conducted under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) and AST SpaceMobile, aims to provide high-speed 4G and 5G connectivity directly to smartphones, enhancing global communication capabilities.
