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ISRO has made history by successfully launching the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite. This mission was entirely commercial, and the satellite, belonging to the American company AST SpaceMobile, was placed into low Earth orbit.
ISRO Makes History with Successful BlueBird Block-2 Launch
Bengaluru: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made history in its final mission of the year. ISRO successfully launched and placed the largest communication satellite, BlueBird Block-2, into low Earth orbit. This mission was entirely commercial and part of a contract to deploy a satellite for the American company AST SpaceMobile.
ISRO used the LVM3 rocket for this mission. This launch vehicle was on its sixth flight and was used for a commercial mission for the third time. It has already been nicknamed 'Bahubali' (the strong one) due to its capabilities. This success will further strengthen India's commercial space sector.
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Prime Minister Modi congratulated ISRO on its successful launch, stating, “Driven by the strength and talent of India’s youth, our space program is becoming more advanced and impactful. The LVM3 has showcased reliable heavy-lift capabilities, strengthening the foundation for future missions like Gaganyaan, expanding commercial launch services, and reinforcing global partnerships. This enhanced capability and boost to self-reliance is a significant achievement for future generations.”
Powered by India’s youth, our space programme is getting more advanced and impactful.
With LVM3 demonstrating reliable heavy-lift performance, we are strengthening the foundations for future missions such as Gaganyaan, expanding commercial launch services and deepening global… pic.twitter.com/f53SiUXyZr
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2025
The launch took place at 8:55 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. After a flight of approximately 15 minutes, the satellite separated from the rocket and was placed into low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 520 kilometers. This mission was part of a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and AST SpaceMobile.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his happiness on this successful launch via Twitter. He wrote that the hard work of Indian youth is making the country's space program more modern and effective. He added that the reliable performance of the LVM3 will strengthen the foundation for Gaganyaan and other future missions.
The BlueBird Block-2 satellite weighs approximately 6,500 kilograms and is the largest commercial communication satellite to be placed in low Earth orbit. ISRO has previously successfully launched Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and a total of 72 OneWeb satellites using the LVM3 rocket.
This satellite is part of a next-generation system. Upon its successful operation, 4G and 5G smartphones will be able to receive broadband connectivity directly via satellite. No additional hardware will be required for this. This will enable mobile network connectivity to reach remote areas, mountainous regions, deserts, and even the oceans.
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The satellite network will continue to function even during natural disasters such as storms, floods, earthquakes, or landslides. In such situations, traditional telecom infrastructure may be destroyed, but the satellite network will always remain operational. This facility will prove to be a revolutionary change in the field of telecommunications.
This successful mission will further strengthen India's commercial space sector. It will promote partnerships with foreign companies, space trade, and global cooperation. This success is indicative of India's growing capabilities in space technology.
