ISRO successfully launched and placed the next-generation US communication satellite BlueBird Block-2 into its intended orbit. The US satellite was onboard ISRO's heaviest vehicle, LVM3-M6, from Sriharikota. 

The LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 Mission is a dedicated commercial mission, launching the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite of AST SpaceMobile, USA. This mission marks the 6th operational flight of LVM3.

In this mission, LVM3-M6 will place the BlueBird Block-2 satellite into Low Earth Orbit, which is the largest commercial communications satellite to be deployed in Low Earth Orbit. It will also be the heaviest payload to be launched by LVM3 from Indian soil. The satellite is part of the next generation of BlueBird Block-2 communication satellites, designed to provide space-based cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard mobile smartphones.

On the successful launch of LVM3-M6 carrying BlueBird Block-2, ISRO chairman V Narayanan said, "I am extremely happy to announce that LVM3-M6 launch vehicle has successfully and precisely injected BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite in the intended orbits." He stated that this launch was the 104th launch from Sriharikota, and is the ninth successive successful mission of LVM three launch vehicle, demonstrating its 100% reliability. 

Commenting on the successful launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the launch of a US satellite is 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 the USA, BlueBird Block-2, into its intended orbit, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey,” Modi said in a post on X. He added that this event strengthens India’s heavy-lift launch capability and reinforces our growing role in the global commercial launch market. “This is also reflective of our efforts towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said, congratulating space scientists and engineers. 

About the LVM3:

LVM3, nicknamed “Bahubali”, developed by ISRO, is a three-stage launch vehicle comprising two solid strap-on motors (S200), a liquid core stage (L110), and a cryogenic upper stage (C25). It has a lift-off mass of 640 tonnes, a height of 43.5 m, and a payload capability of 4,200 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). 

In its earlier missions, LVM3 successfully launched Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb missions carrying 72 satellites. The previous launch of LVM3 was the LVM3-M5/CMS-03 mission, which was accomplished on November 2, 2025, marking it as a back-to-back mission of LVM3 within just 52 days.