New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is launching the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) M6 flight to deploy the BlueBird 6 communications
satellite for US-based AST SpaceMobile. India’s mightiest operational rocket will be carrying the heaviest payload ever launched from Indian soil. The rocket is counting down to liftoff from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in the Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR). The liftoff is scheduled for 08:54 hours IST, with ISRO inviting the general public to the launch viewing gallery at the spaceport. DoorDarshan will be broadcasting the coverage, with ISRO hosting a livestream.
ASTSpaceMobile will be hosting a livestream as well, with pre-launch coverage starting half an hour before liftoff. The BlueBird 6 is the only passenger on board, and is the first in the second-generation ‘Block 2’ satellites that provide direct cellular broadband coverage to smartphones from space, without the use of special modifications or equipment. To compensate for the altitude, each of the BlueBird Block 2 satellites have large phased arrays, measuring 223 square metres. These are the largest private communcations satellites in orbit. The eventual goal is to provide direct cellular broadband to underserved areas, with initial focus in markets such as North America, Europe and Japan.
An exciting time for Indian spaceflight
The next few months are packed with launches. ISRO will be rounding off 2025 with the launch of the PSLV-C52 mission on 31 December to deploy the EOS-N1 ‘Anvesha’ satellite for the DRDO, with a number of copassengers including the MIRA miniaturised payload developed by Hyderabad-based EON SpaceLabs with satellite partner TakeMe2Space, and the Kestrel Cargo Capsule Demonstrator for the Spanish New Space Startup Orbital Paradigm. This will be followed by the highly anticipated inaugural developmental flight of the Gaganyaan programme, that will be the first integrated flight of the brand new hardware developed by India for human spaceflight.
