In a significant milestone for India's commercial space endeavors, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has officially scheduled the launch of a major American commercial satellite for December 24, 2025. The mission will be executed by the space public sector undertaking, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
Mission Details and Schedule
The launch vehicle, ISRO's heaviest rocket, the LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), is set to lift off at 8:54 AM from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This mission, designated LVM3-M6, will carry the US-based AST SpaceMobile's "BlueBird Block-2" or "BlueBird-6" satellite into orbit.
While ISRO Chairman S. Somanath had previously indicated a December launch, the agency finalized December 24 after initially targeting December 15. This launch underscores a strategic shift, with the powerful LVM-3 increasingly becoming the vehicle of choice for heavyweight commercial payloads.
The BlueBird Satellite: A Technological Powerhouse
The satellite at the heart of this mission is a next-generation spacecraft designed for a global cellular broadband network. Weighing approximately 6,500 kg, the BlueBird Block-2 is part of AST SpaceMobile's planned constellation.
The company states that these advanced satellites feature massive phased arrays covering nearly 2,400 square feet, making them the largest commercial arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO). This surpasses their own first-generation BlueBird satellites, which held the previous record at 693 square feet.
Equipped with proprietary AST5000 application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), each satellite is engineered to deliver 24/7 high-speed cellular broadband directly to everyday smartphones. The technical specifications promise 10 GHz of processing bandwidth and peak speeds of up to 120 Mbps per coverage cell.
India's Rising Stature in Global Launch Market
This mission is a testament to India's evolving capabilities in the international commercial launch sector. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath has emphasized that this launch symbolizes India's remarkable journey. The nation, which once relied on other countries including the US for its space program, is now formidable enough to launch a large satellite for the American market, a recognized leader in space technology.
The LVM-3 made its commercial debut on October 23, 2022, by successfully placing a 5,796 kg satellite into orbit. Since then, it has been deployed for multiple commercial missions, gradually taking over from the reliable PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) for heavier payloads. The PSLV, having launched over 400 foreign satellites, long served as the workhorse for ISRO's commercial launches.
The upcoming December 24 launch, managed by NSIL, solidifies India's position as a reliable and cost-effective partner for global satellite operators, capable of handling sophisticated and heavy spacecraft from leading space-faring nations.
