ISRO Launches BlueBird Block-2 in Landmark Mission for Global Smartphone Connectivity
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday scripted another milestone in its growing commercial launch portfolio by successfully deploying the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile. The satellite was placed into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) aboard ISRO’s heavy-lift LVM3 rocket, with the mission formally declared a success.
The launch took place at 8:55 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking the sixth operational flight of the LVM3 launch vehicle. With this mission, ISRO not only expanded its global commercial footprint but also pushed the technical limits of its most powerful rocket.
The BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft is designed to deliver high-speed cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard smartphones across the world—without the need for specialised hardware or device modifications. Crucially, it is the heaviest payload ever launched into Low Earth Orbit by the LVM3, and the largest commercial communications satellite deployed in LEO to date.
ISRO said the LVM3-M6/BlueBird Block-2 mission was a dedicated commercial launch, underscoring the growing role of India’s space agency as a reliable and cost-effective partner for global satellite operators. The mission adds to ISRO’s increasing roster of international commercial launches.
The LVM3 launch vehicle—developed indigenously by ISRO—is a three-stage rocket consisting of two solid strap-on boosters (S200), a liquid core stage (L110), and a cryogenic upper stage (C25). The vehicle stands 43.5 metres tall, has a lift-off mass of 640 tonnes, and can carry payloads of up to 4,200 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
In recent years, LVM3 has emerged as ISRO’s flagship launcher, having previously carried out high-profile missions including Chandrayaan-2, the historic Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing mission, and two OneWeb missions that together deployed 72 satellites. Its previous flight, the LVM3-M5/CMS-03 mission, was completed successfully on November 2.
AST SpaceMobile, meanwhile, is building what it describes as the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network capable of connecting directly to everyday smartphones. According to the company, the BlueBird satellite constellation will allow users to make voice and video calls, browse the internet, and access 4G and 5G services from virtually anywhere on Earth—bridging coverage gaps in remote and underserved regions.
The successful launch of BlueBird Block-2 reinforces ISRO’s credentials as a heavy-lift launch provider and highlights India’s rising role in shaping the future of global satellite-based communications.