BlueBird-6, created by AST SpaceMobile Inc., a Texas-based company focused on developing a space-based cellular broadband network, is scheduled to be deployed into low Earth orbit (LEO) using ISRO’s LVM3 heavy-lift launch vehicle.
The satellite will ascend into orbit aboard the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) rocket, also known as “Bahubali”. The LVM3 previously carried India’s heaviest CMS-03 satellite, which weighed 4.4 tonnes, on 2 November, as reported by The New Indian Express.
BlueBird-6, which weighs 6.5 tonnes, arrived in India from the United States on 19 October. After its arrival, it was transported to Sriharikota for launch preparations, including final checks, fuelling, and integration with the LVM3 launcher.
The LVM3 rocket, with a total lift-off mass of 640 tonnes, is a three-stage launch vehicle that stands 45.5 metres tall and is capable of carrying payloads of up to 8,000 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO) and 4,000 kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
The launch will be managed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, responsible for marketing launch services globally and generating revenue from satellite contracts.
Once in place, BlueBird-6 will host the largest commercial phased-array antenna in low Earth orbit, covering an area of approximately 2,400 square feet—more than triple the size of the antennas on BlueBird-1 through -5.
The satellite will also provide nearly ten times the data throughput of prior units, enabling direct-to-device mobile broadband in regions where terrestrial networks are weak or completely absent.
Its primary goal is to help close the global “digital divide” by offering high-speed broadband directly to standard mobile phones in remote and underserved areas. This eliminates the requirement for specialized user terminals, thereby enhancing broadband accessibility for populations without conventional infrastructure.
Each BlueBird satellite is engineered for a maximum bandwidth of 10,000 MHz, offering significant capacity. AST SpaceMobile utilizes licensed spectrum for its operations and collaborates with existing mobile network operators to boost connectivity.
This launch is part of AST SpaceMobile’s broader plan to provide global space-based internet coverage by deploying a constellation of next-generation “Block-2” satellites by 2026.
In addition to its commercial importance, the mission enhances the competitiveness of India’s launch services sector and solidifies ISRO’s strategic role in international space partnerships.
It also aids in ongoing preparations for upcoming initiatives, such as the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, aimed at sending Indian astronauts into space aboard a human-rated version of the LVM3 launcher.
