CHENNAI: The launch date for AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellite has now been officially announced, with the spacecraft scheduled to lift off aboard India's LVM3-M6 mission on December 24, 2025, at 08:54 hrs IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR, Sriharikota.
The 6.5-tonne BlueBird block-2 satellite is one of the largest commercial satellites ever launched from India and represents a major technological advancement in space-based mobile and navigation communications. Developed by AST SpaceMobile, a US-based telecommunication company, the satellite is designed to deliver direct-to-device connectivity, enabling ordinary 4G and 5G smartphones to communicate directly with satellites without relying on terrestrial mobile towers.
Technically, BlueBird is equipped with a large deployable phased array antenna system, which unfolds in orbit to provide high-gain signal coverage over wide geographical areas. This advanced antenna allows dynamic beam forming and precise targeting, supporting thousands of simultaneous mobile connections across land and sea.
The satellite also carries high-capacity onboard power systems, including large solar arrays and sophisticated thermal control mechanisms to support its energy-intensive payload. Advanced digital processing units and redundant avionics ensure stable operations, signal reliability, and long-term mission performance.
Once operational, BlueBird will become part of AST SpaceMobile's growing constellation aimed at providing global cellular and navigation coverage, particularly in remote, rural, and disaster-affected regions.
With the launch date now confirmed, anticipation is building around the mission, which is expected to mark a significant step forward in next-generation satellite communications and reinforce India's role in launching complex, high mass (over six tons) commercial satellites.