BlueBird-6, developed by AST SpaceMobile Inc., a Texas-based company building a space-based cellular broadband network, is scheduled to be placed into low Earth orbit (LEO) aboard ISRO’s LVM3 heavy-lift launch vehicle.
The satellite will travel into orbit on the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) rocket, also known as “Bahubali”. The LVM3 previously launched India’s heaviest CMS-03 satellite, weighing 4.4 tonnes, on 2 November, according to The New Indian Express.
BlueBird-6, which weighs 6.5 tonnes, was shipped from the United States to India on 19 October. It was then transported to Sriharikota for launch preparations, including final inspections, fuelling, and integration with the LVM3 launcher.
The LVM3 rocket, with a lift-off mass of 640 tonnes, is a three-stage, 45.5-metre-tall launch vehicle 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 overseen by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, which is responsible for marketing launch services internationally and generating revenue from satellite contracts.
Once deployed, BlueBird-6 will host the largest commercial phased-array antenna in low Earth orbit, spanning approximately 2,400 square feet—more than three times the size of those fitted on BlueBird-1 through -5.
The satellite also offers nearly ten times the data throughput of earlier units, enabling direct-to-device mobile broadband in regions where terrestrial networks are weak or entirely absent.
Its primary objective is to help bridge the global “digital divide” by delivering high-speed broadband directly to ordinary mobile phones in remote and underserved areas. This eliminates the need for specialised user terminals, thereby improving broadband accessibility for populations lacking conventional infrastructure.
Each BlueBird satellite is designed for a maximum bandwidth of 10,000 MHz, providing substantial capacity. AST SpaceMobile uses licensed spectrum for operations and partners with existing mobile network operators to enhance connectivity.
The launch forms part of AST SpaceMobile’s wider plan to deliver global space-based internet coverage by deploying a constellation of next-generation “Block-2” satellites by 2026.
Beyond its commercial significance, the mission strengthens the competitiveness of India’s launch services sector and reinforces ISRO’s strategic role in international space collaboration.
It also supports ongoing preparations for forthcoming initiatives such as the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space using a human-rated version of the LVM3 launcher.
