The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch BlueBird-6, the heaviest US commercial communication satellite, on December 20, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The launch, initially scheduled for December 15, has been delayed by a week.
BlueBird-6 is the first of AST SpaceMobile's next-generation satellites. AST SpaceMobile, a Texas-based company, built the satellite to provide space-based cellular broadband network. The launch is being managed by New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO. NSIL aims to generate revenue for the government through international launch contracts and partnerships.
Weighing 6.5 tonnes, BlueBird-6 is one of the heaviest commercial satellites. The satellite arrived in India on October 19 from the US and was transported to Sriharikota for integration with the LVM3 launcher, fueling, and final checks. The satellite was transported onboard the Antonov, the world's largest cargo aircraft, originally built in Ukraine.
The BlueBird-6 satellite features the largest commercial phased array in low Earth orbit, spanning nearly 2,400 square feet. This is a 3.5 times increase in size over BlueBirds 1-5 and supports ten times the data capacity. AST SpaceMobile aims to deploy between 45 and 60 next-gen BlueBird satellites in orbit by the end of 2026, with launches planned every one to two months on average. The company is targeting five orbital launches by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
The mission aims to provide direct-to-device mobile broadband connectivity, enabling communication in areas with poor terrestrial networks and bridging the digital divide. The BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver a high amount of bandwidth, with each unit capable of up to 10,000 MHz. They operate by partnering with existing mobile network carriers to enhance their networks using licensed spectrum.
ISRO's Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) rocket, also known as Bahubali, will place the satellite into its orbit. LVM3 is a three-stage, 45.5-meter heavy-lift vehicle with a lift-off mass of 640 tonnes. It can place heavy satellites in designated orbits of 600km altitude. LVM-3 also launched India's heaviest CMS-3 satellite, weighing 4.4 tonnes, into its orbit on November 2.
Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said that the next-generation satellites will soon enable ubiquitous cellular broadband coverage direct to everyday smartphones from space. He added that the company aims to advance U.S. leadership in space innovation while improving global connectivity.
AST SpaceMobile is increasing production, with components for 40 additional satellites expected to be completed by early 2026. The company has manufacturing and operations facilities totaling about 500,000 square feet worldwide, mostly in the United States, and a workforce of approximately 1,800 people.
