In a major international space milestone, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully deployed a next-generation communication satellite into orbit, marking one of the most significant commercial space missions of the year. On December 24, 2025, ISRO’s heavy-lift launch vehicle LVM3-M6, also known as “Baahubali,” lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, carrying the BlueBird Block-2 satellite for US-based AST SpaceMobile.
The launch vehicle performed flawlessly, placing the next-generation satellite into its designated low Earth orbit (LEO) approximately 15 minutes after liftoff. BlueBird Block-2 is designed to enhance global communications by providing direct broadband connectivity to standard smartphones, eliminating the need for ground terminals and expanding access to remote regions.
Weighing about 6,100 kg, this satellite is the heaviest payload ever launched into orbit by an ISRO vehicle, underlining India’s growing capabilities in advanced space technology and commercial launch services. The mission, operated in partnership with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), reflects burgeoning international collaboration in the space sector and expands the global ecosystem of next-generation satellite communications.
ISRO leadership hailed the deployment as a major leap for global connectivity infrastructure, positioning the agency and its partners at the forefront of advanced space missions.
