Successful Launch of India’s Bahubali Rocket with BlueBird Block-2 Satellite

Today, India’s Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3-M6), known as the Bahubali rocket, successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at approximately 8:55 AM IST.

The rocket carried the BlueBird Block-2 satellite, also referred to as BlueBird 6, a next-generation communications satellite developed by the US company AST SpaceMobile. Weighing around 6,100–6,500 kg, this is the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil by an Indian rocket.

The satellite was precisely placed into a Low Earth Orbit at about 520 km altitude after a 15–16 minute flight. It features the largest commercial phased-array antenna ever deployed in LEO, spanning nearly 2,400 square feet when unfolded, and provides space-based cellular broadband directly to unmodified smartphones with 10 times the data capacity of earlier BlueBird satellites.

This mission marks ISRO’s third dedicated commercial launch using LVM3 and its first for a major US client through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), strengthening India’s position in the global commercial launch market. The LVM3 continues its perfect success record.