ISRO creates history, heaviest BlueBird-2 satellite launched by ‘Bahubali’ LVM3; smartphones to connect directly from space

Sriharikota (The Uttam Hindu): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a historic milestone on Wednesday by successfully launching the BlueBird Block-2 satellite into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The satellite was carried by ISRO’s powerful LVM3-M6 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, marking the heaviest payload ever launched by the LVM3 vehicle.

The launch took place at 8:54 am IST from the second launch pad. Standing 43.5 metres tall and weighing around 640 tonnes, the LVM3 rocket placed the 6,100-kg satellite into a circular orbit at an altitude of about 520 km with a 53-degree inclination, nearly 15 minutes after liftoff.

This mission marked the sixth successful flight of the LVM3 launch vehicle, which has earlier carried major missions such as Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and 72 OneWeb satellites. The launch was executed as part of a dedicated commercial agreement through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

The BlueBird Block-2 satellite has been developed by US-based company AST SpaceMobile, which is building the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network. The satellite is designed to provide direct 4G and 5G voice, video calls, messaging, streaming, and internet services on standard smartphones, without the need for special satellite phones or additional hardware.

This is the first satellite in the BlueBird Block-2 series and features a massive 223-square-metre phased array antenna, the largest commercial communication array ever deployed in Low Earth Orbit. Compared to earlier versions, Block-2 satellites are expected to deliver nearly ten times higher bandwidth and help bridge the global connectivity gap for billions of mobile users.

AST SpaceMobile has already partnered with more than 50 mobile network operators worldwide. The successful launch strengthens India’s commercial space launch capabilities and reinforces ISRO’s position as a trusted global launch service provider. Experts believe this mission will play a key role in extending mobile connectivity to remote regions such as mountains, deserts, and oceans.