ISRO: The BlueBird Block-2 satellite is successfully launched into orbit by

ISRO: The LVM3-M6 rocket, which carried the United States’ next generation BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite, was successfully launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Wednesday, marking yet another historic achievement.

“Mission Achieved.” In an X post, ISRO announced that the BlueBird Block-2 satellite has been successfully launched into its planned orbit by the LVM3-M6 mission.

With a weight of 6,100 kg, the communication satellite is the largest payload ever launched by LVM3 into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The LVM3-M5 Communication Satellite 03, which weighed over 4,400 kg and was safely launched by ISRO on November 2 into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), was the heaviest hitherto.

The satellite is a component of the next generation of BlueBird Block-2 communication satellites, which are intended to provide regular mobile handsets direct access to space-based cellular broadband connection.

This mission represents the LVM3 launch vehicle’s sixth operational flight. The enormous 6,100 kilogram payload is intended to provide high-speed 4G and 5G connection straight to smartphones, making it a major advancement in telecommunications technology.

Congratulations to Team ISRO on the successful launch of the BlueBird Block-2-carrying LVM3-M6. In an X post, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said, “Under the visionary patronage of PM Narendra Modi, ISRO continues to achieve one success after another, reiterating India’s growing prowess in space technology.”

The US-based AST SpaceMobile is developing the BlueBird communications satellite, which will be launched on India’s most powerful rocket, the LVM3. At 6.5 tonnes, it is among the heaviest commercial satellites. On October 19, the US-based Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite touched down in India.

The US and ISRO are working together for the second time. The $1.5 billion NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission (NISAR), which aims to take high-resolution Earth scans with the ability to pierce through fogs, thick clouds, and ice layers, was successfully launched by ISRO in July.

Five satellites, BlueBird 1 through 5, were launched by AST SpaceMobile in September 2024. The business has worked with over 50 mobile carriers globally in an effort to further extend this network.