Andhra Pradesh – India’s space sector reached another milestone with the successful launch of the BlueBird 6 satellite, carried aboard the LVM3-M6 rocket, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday. The mission marked the heaviest payload ever launched from Indian soil, with the satellite set to revolutionize global communications.
The BlueBird 6 satellite, developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile, is designed to provide space-based broadband connectivity directly to smartphones, eliminating the need for specialized ground equipment. The launch, which followed a 24-hour countdown, lifted off at 8:55 am local time from Sriharikota, approximately 135 km east of Chennai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the mission as a significant advancement in India’s space capabilities. He noted that the successful launch strengthened the country’s heavy-lift launch capacity and solidified its growing role in the global commercial space market. “This is a proud milestone in India’s space journey,” Modi said.
The LVM3-M6 rocket, known as “Baahubali,” is powered by two solid strap-on boosters and is capable of lifting heavy payloads. After 15 minutes in flight, the rocket successfully placed the BlueBird 6 satellite into its designated Low Earth Orbit, at an altitude of about 520 km.
Abel Avellan, CEO of AST SpaceMobile, congratulated Modi, ISRO, and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for the flawless execution of the launch. “Perfect execution from both teams in India and the U.S.,” Avellan posted on social media, adding that the satellite was now under control from their Washington D.C. command center.
The BlueBird 6 satellite is part of a new generation of communications satellites designed to expand mobile broadband services globally. The mission was conducted under a commercial agreement between ISRO’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), and AST SpaceMobile. The launch is seen as a crucial step toward enhancing India’s self-reliance in space technology, an initiative that aligns with the country’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision.
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