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5d ago

AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 6 Launches on ISRO LVM3, Deploys Largest Commercial Phased-Array in Low Earth Orbit

AST says the mission begins a rapid buildout toward a 45–60‑satellite direct‑to‑phone network by late 2026.

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Overview

  • The satellite lifted off from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre at about 10:24–10:25 p.m. EST on Dec. 23/24 aboard an LVM3 and the company reported successful on‑orbit deployment.
  • BlueBird 6 carries a nearly 2,400‑square‑foot phased‑array that AST says is the largest commercial system in LEO and provides much higher capacity than its earlier BlueBird models.
  • The spacecraft is designed to enable direct‑to‑device 4G and 5G connectivity for standard, unmodified smartphones for commercial and government uses.
  • AST frames this flight as the start of its execution phase with launches planned every one to two months to reach a 45–60 satellite constellation by the end of 2026.
  • Production is scaling through facilities in Texas and Florida and the company cites agreements with more than 50 mobile network operators, following share gains ahead of the launch.