The Bluebird Block-2 satellite, developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile, and recently launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) using its LVM3-M6 (Bahubali) rocket, is expected to begin operations in the coming weeks.
The next-generation communications satellite was successfully deployed into its intended low Earth orbit on December 24, becoming the first AST SpaceMobile spacecraft to be launched from Indian soil by ISRO.
In a statement, AST SpaceMobile said Bluebird-6 is the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in low Earth orbit, spanning about 2,400 square feet, around three times larger than the earlier Bluebird satellites 1-5 that were launched in September 2024.
The satellite has been engineered to support both commercial and government applications, including the delivery of high-speed 4G and 5G space-based cellular broadband directly to standard, unmodified smartphones.
Going forward, the company plans to launch between 45 and 60 satellites by the end of 2026, which it believes will be sufficient to provide connectivity across key markets.
