3 min readNew DelhiDec 24, 2025 02:25 PM IST
First published on: Dec 23, 2025 at 09:37 AM IST
ISRO’s LVM3-M6, also known as the BlueBird Block-2 Mission, is a dedicated commercial launch planned on the LVM3 rocket to place the BlueBird Block-2. ISRO’s heavy-lift rocket LVM3 will launch a US communications satellite, BlueBird Block-2 (AST SpaceMobile), on December 24 at 8:54 AM (Indian Standard Time) from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
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What’s happening
Mission: LVM3-M6 to place the BlueBird Block-2 satellite into orbit as a dedicated commercial launch
Why it’s notable: It’s the 6th operational flight of the LVM3 rocket, underlining India’s growing role in commercial space launches.
What is this satellite for
BlueBird Block-2 is part of a new generation of satellites that enables space-based cellular broadband services. These allow direct connectivity to regular mobile smartphones without the need for specialised equipment.
BlueBird Block-2 basics
Owner: AST SpaceMobile (US-based)
Aim: Support cellular broadband from space and enable direct-to-phone service.
Where it’s going: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) — roughly 160 km to 1,600 km above Earth.
Largest commercial communications satellite to be placed in Low earth orbit (LEO)
Heaviest payload launched by LVM3 from Indian territory
LVM3 rocket basics
LVM3 is ISRO’s “heavy mover” with three stages:
Two solid boosters (S200)
One liquid core stage (L110)
One cryogenic upper stage (C25)
LVM3 has flown major missions like Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3, plus two OneWeb missions that deployed 72 satellites. Its most recent flight was LVM3-M5/CMS-03 on Nov 2, 2025.
Numbers to remember
- Launch time: Dec 24, 8:54 am IST
- Rocket size: 43.5 metres tall and around 640 tonnes
- Capacity: Up to 4,200 kg to GTO (a high-energy orbit route used for some satellites).
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What to look for
The key moment after liftoff: When the rocket deploys the satellite into LEO. Then it’s all about how well the satellite performs its direct-to-phone connectivity goals over time.
The mission represents the sixth operational flight of the LVM3 launch vehicle, further underlining India’s growing role in commercial space launches.
The mission will be launched at 8:54 AM on December 24, a day ahead of Christmas from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. You can watch the livestream of the historic launch here:
LVM3M6 is set to launch the BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft tomorrow from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (ISRO). 
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