The massive US-licensed BlueBird 6 satellite is scheduled for launch on December 15, 2025, utilizing the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) LVM-3 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, according to a statement from telecom company AST SpaceMobile.
This launch will mark a significant step toward providing global cellular broadband coverage direct to everyday smartphones from space.
About BlueBird 6
- Size and Scope: BlueBird 6 is one of the world’s heaviest commercial communications satellites designed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO), weighing 6,500 kg.
- Manufacturing: It was manufactured at AST SpaceMobile’s headquarters in Midland, Texas.
- Next-Generation Technology: It is the first of the company’s next-generation satellites and will feature the largest commercial phased array in LEO at nearly 2,400 square feet. This represents a 3.5 times increase in size and supports 10 times the data capacity over previous BlueBird iterations.
- Goal: The satellite aims to soon enable ubiquitous cellular broadband coverage directly to standard smartphones without the need for specialized equipment.
ISRO chairperson V Narayanan had previously indicated the satellite would be launched in the second week of December. The satellite completed its final assembly and testing on October 1 and was transported to India aboard an Antonov large cargo plane.