The Indian LVM3 rocket successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on December 23 (08:55 IST on December 24). Fifteen and a half minutes after liftoff, the rocket deployed the BlueBird 6 satellite into a low Earth orbit at an altitude of around 521 km. Developed by AST SpaceMobile in Texas, BlueBird 6 is designed to provide broadband connectivity to smartphones.
This launch marked the ninth mission for the 43.5-meter-tall, three-stage rocket, which stands as India’s most powerful rocket. The LVM3 was first launched in December 2014 and boasts a 100% success rate with its launches.
AST SpaceMobile is building a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit. Previously, the company launched five satellites, BlueBirds 1-5, on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The antennas of these satellites covered an area of 64.4 square meters, setting a record for deployed structures in low Earth orbit. BlueBird 6 broke this record by expanding the antenna area to 223 square meters. This is the first of AST SpaceMobile’s new generation BlueBirds.
According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the 6,100 kg BlueBird 6 is the heaviest payload ever launched to low Earth orbit by the LVM3.
In recent developments, ISRO plans to further collaborate with AST SpaceMobile on expanding satellite communications technology, aiming to improve global connectivity, especially in rural and underserved areas.
