By Poulomi Chatterjee
India on Wednesday carried out its heaviest commercial satellite launch to date, placing a US-built communications satellite into low Earth orbit in a mission that underscores the Indian Space Research Organisation’s expanding role in the global commercial launch market and its ability to handle high-value foreign payloads.
The mission involved the launch of BlueBird Block-2, a next-generation mobile broadband satellite developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile, aboard Isro’s LVM3 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Weighing about 6.5 tonnes, the satellite is designed to deliver direct 4G and 5G connectivity to unmodified smartphones, particularly in remote and under-served regions where terrestrial mobile networks are limited or absent.
Once fully deployed in orbit, the satellite will unfurl a phased-array antenna spanning around 223 square metres, making it the largest commercial communications antenna ever flown in low Earth orbit. According to AST SpaceMobile, the system can generate thousands of cellular beams and support peak download speeds of up to 120 Mbps, enabling voice calls, messaging and data services, including video streaming, without reliance on ground-based infrastructure.
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Isro said the satellite was injected into its intended orbit with precision and that all stages of the launch vehicle performed as planned. “The mission has been executed successfully and the satellite has been placed into the desired orbit,” the space agency said, adding that post-launch operations were proceeding normally.
For Isro, the launch marks a new benchmark in its commercial operations. The BlueBird Block-2 mission is the heaviest foreign commercial payload carried by India so far, surpassing previous launches conducted for the OneWeb low Earth orbit constellation. It also reinforces the credentials of the LVM3 as a reliable heavy-lift platform, with its three-stage configuration comprising solid strap-on boosters, a liquid core stage and a cryogenic upper stage.
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The launch has commercial significance for NewSpace India Limited, which markets Isro’s launch services globally. While the financial details were not disclosed, such missions are a key revenue stream as India seeks to expand its footprint in the increasingly competitive global launch services market.
For AST SpaceMobile, the deployment is a critical step towards building a full satellite constellation aimed at extending mobile coverage across oceans, deserts and mountainous regions. The company has partnered with telecom operators worldwide and positions its space-based cellular network as a complement to existing terrestrial infrastructure.
The mission also comes amid intensifying competition in the commercial launch sector, led by players such as SpaceX. Istro has been pitching itself as a cost-effective and dependable alternative, particularly for governments and firms seeking diversified launch options.