BlueBird Block-2 Satellite:

BlueBird Block-2 Satellite: Full Details (AST SpaceMobile’s Next-Generation Communications Satellite)

BlueBird Block-2 is a next-generation communications satellite developed by the American company AST SpaceMobile. It was successfully launched by ISRO on December 24, 2025, using the LVM3-M6 rocket from Sriharikota, India. This is the heaviest commercial satellite ever launched from Indian soil.

Key Specifications:

• Mass: Approximately 6,100 kg (the heaviest payload launched by LVM3 to Low Earth Orbit).
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of ~520-600 km (inclination ~53°), enabling direct connection to standard mobile phones.
• Antenna: Massive 223 m² (about 2,400 sq ft) phased-array antenna – the largest commercial communications antenna in LEO to date. It is 3x larger and offers 10x more capacity than the earlier Block-1 satellites.
• Capacity: Up to 120 Mbps per coverage cell (supports 4G/5G voice, video calls, messaging, streaming, and data).
• Technology: Powered by the AST5000 ASIC chip, allowing direct-to-mobile connectivity with unmodified, off-the-shelf smartphones (no extra hardware required).

Mission Purpose:

• Part of AST SpaceMobile’s global LEO constellation to create the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network.
• Direct-to-Device service: Provides 4G/5G internet and calls in remote areas (forests, oceans, mountains, deserts) where traditional cell towers cannot reach.
• Plan: Launch a total of 60+ Block-2 satellites for continuous global coverage. The first Block-1 batch (5 satellites) was launched in September 2024.
• Partnerships: Collaborations with 50+ mobile operators (e.g., AT&T, Verizon), covering over 2.8 billion users worldwide.

Launch and Significance

• Launch: December 24, 2025, via ISRO’s LVM3-M6 (India’s most powerful rocket). This was LVM3’s 6th operational flight and third dedicated commercial mission.
• Milestone: Maintains ISRO’s 100% success rate for LVM3 and marks the heaviest LEO payload launched from India. It is part of a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and AST SpaceMobile.
• Future Impact: Proves LVM3’s reliability for upcoming missions like Gaganyaan (human spaceflight) and other heavy-lift projects.

This satellite has the potential to revolutionize global mobile connectivity by bringing high-speed internet and calls to every corner of the planet – even the most remote places. AST SpaceMobile’s vision: “Connectivity everywhere, all the time