India’s LVM3 ‘Bahubali’ rocket successfully launched BlueBird 6, the heaviest satellite ever carried by an Indian launcher, marking a major commercial milestone for ISRO and advancing a next-generation mission to deliver direct broadband connectivity from space to ordinary smartphones.
BY PC Bureau
December 24, 2025: India’s most powerful launch vehicle, the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)—popularly known as the country’s ‘Bahubali’ rocket—successfully blasted off on Wednesday morning, carrying its heaviest commercial payload to date, the next-generation communications satellite BlueBird 6. The historic mission underscores India’s growing stature as a reliable launch partner in the global space market.
The 43.5-metre-tall LVM3-M6 lifted off at 8:55 am from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, about 135 km east of Chennai. The launch came moments after the conclusion of a smooth 24-hour countdown.
Powered by two massive S200 solid strap-on boosters, the rocket ascended majestically into the morning sky, drawing applause from scientists and engineers monitoring the mission.
Satellite to Enable Direct Broadband Connectivity to Smartphones
The payload, BlueBird 6, belongs to AST SpaceMobile, a US-based space technology firm pioneering a revolutionary concept: direct-to-smartphone broadband connectivity from space, without the need for specialised ground equipment, dishes, or terminals.
Once deployed into low-Earth orbit at an altitude of around 520 km, BlueBird 6 is expected to demonstrate the ability to deliver voice, data, and internet services directly to standard mobile phones—potentially transforming connectivity in remote, rural, and disaster-prone regions across the globe.
According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the spacecraft is scheduled to separate from the launch vehicle approximately 15 minutes after lift-off, following a precisely planned flight sequence.
A significant stride in India’s space sector…
The successful LVM3-M6 launch, placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil, the spacecraft of USA, BlueBird Block-2, into its intended orbit, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey.
It strengthens… pic.twitter.com/AH6aJAyOhi
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2025
Commercial Milestone for ISRO and NSIL
The mission was carried out under a commercial launch agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)—ISRO’s commercial arm—and AST SpaceMobile (AST & Science, LLC). It highlights India’s increasing role in launching large, complex, and high-value international satellites, a domain once dominated by a handful of global players.
With BlueBird 6 being the heaviest satellite ever launched by an Indian rocket for a commercial customer, the flight reinforces the LVM3’s capability beyond human spaceflight missions such as Gaganyaan, and positions it as a strong contender in the global heavy-lift launch market.
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Launch Delayed Briefly to Avoid Orbital Collision
In a demonstration of operational caution and space safety, ISRO delayed the launch by 90 seconds from its originally scheduled time of 8:54 am. The revised lift-off occurred at 8:55:30 am after mission controllers detected a potential orbital conjunction—a close approach with space debris or another satellite—along the rocket’s flight path.
ISRO officials clarified that such last-minute adjustments are increasingly common, given the rapid congestion of near-Earth space, where thousands of active satellites and debris fragments orbit the planet. The decision underscores ISRO’s adherence to international best practices in space situational awareness and collision avoidance.
Significance of the Mission
The successful launch of BlueBird 6 carries strategic, commercial, and technological significance:
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Strengthens India’s commercial space credentials amid rising global demand for satellite launches
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Demonstrates LVM3’s reliability for heavy and complex payloads
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Supports next-generation communication technologies with potential civilian, humanitarian, and emergency-response applications
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Reinforces India’s reputation as a cost-effective, precise, and safe launch provider
As satellite-based broadband becomes a cornerstone of future digital infrastructure, missions like LVM3-M6 place India firmly at the forefront of a rapidly evolving space economy.
