The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to mark a significant milestone in its commercial launch services with a major mission for a United States client. The space agency's heavy-lift rocket, the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3), will launch the American commercial satellite 'BlueBird Block-2', also known as 'BlueBird-6', on December 24, 2025.
Mission Details and Schedule Confirmation
The launch is scheduled for 8:54 AM on December 24, 2025, from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The mission, designated LVM3-M6, is being executed by the space public sector undertaking, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), which holds the commercial contract for the launch. While ISRO Chairman S. Somanath had earlier indicated a December launch, the agency refined the date from an initial target of December 15 to the confirmed date of Christmas Eve.
A Giant Leap in Commercial Satellite Technology
The BlueBird Block-2 satellite, built by AST SpaceMobile, represents a leap forward in space-based cellular broadband technology. Weighing approximately 6,500 kg, it is designed to provide high-speed cellular broadband directly to everyday smartphones across the globe, operating 24/7.
The satellite's most striking feature is its massive phased array, which the company states will be the largest commercial array ever deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO). The arrays span nearly 2,400 square feet, shattering the previous record of 693 square feet held by their first-generation BlueBird satellites. According to AST SpaceMobile, each satellite will utilize a proprietary AST5000 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to support 10 GHz of processing bandwidth and deliver peak speeds of up to 120 Mbps per coverage cell.
LVM-3: India's New Workhorse for Heavy Commercial Payloads
This mission underscores the growing role of the LVM-3 in ISRO's commercial portfolio. While the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has been the traditional workhorse, successfully launching over 400 foreign satellites, the LVM-3 is now stepping into the spotlight for heavier commercial payloads.
The LVM-3 made its commercial debut on October 23, 2022, by successfully placing a 5,796 kg satellite into orbit. Since that landmark flight, the vehicle has been actively deployed for multiple commercial missions, establishing its reliability and capability on the global stage.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath has highlighted the symbolic importance of this mission. He noted that it demonstrates India's formidable growth in the space sector—a nation that once relied on other countries, including the US, for its space program is now trusted to launch a large, advanced satellite for an American company, a global leader in space technology.
The BlueBird-6 satellite will become part of a larger constellation of satellites operated by AST SpaceMobile, aimed at creating a space-based cellular broadband network accessible by standard mobile phones anywhere on Earth.
