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yesterday

ISRO’s LVM3 Sets Payload Record With Successful BlueBird Block-2 Launch to Low Earth Orbit

The dedicated NSIL mission for US-based AST SpaceMobile underscores India’s growing role in commercial launch services.

ISRO's LVM3M6 is set to launch the BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, tomorrow.
At 6,100 kg, this is the heaviest payload to be placed by ISRO’s heavy-lift launch vehicle LVM3.
The launch of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s satellite LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 on December 24.
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Overview

  • LVM3-M6 lifted off from Sriharikota at about 8:54–8:55 am IST on December 24 and deployed the roughly 6,100 kg spacecraft about 16 minutes after launch.
  • ISRO confirmed injection into a near-circular orbit of about 520 km at 53° inclination, achieving 518.5 km against a 520 km target.
  • BlueBird Block-2 enables direct-to-smartphone 4G/5G connectivity using a 223 m² phased-array antenna, described as the largest commercial communications antenna operating in LEO.
  • The flight was LVM3’s sixth operational mission and the second consecutive LVM3 launch within 52 days, demonstrating consistent heavy-lift performance.
  • AST SpaceMobile took control after separation with nominal telemetry reported, as Indian leaders praised the success as strengthening the country’s global launch credentials.