ISRO to launch advanced American satellite into space; mission scheduled for December 24

Bengaluru: ISRO has established a strong reputation in the space sector, leading countries worldwide to choose ISRO for launching their satellites. ISRO is now preparing to launch a crucial satellite for the American company AST SpaceMobile. ISRO will launch the American company’s BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite on December 24th through its upcoming LVM3 M6 mission.

High-speed cellular broadband for smartphones
Through this historic mission, the American company will send its next-generation communication satellite into space, designed to provide high-speed cellular broadband directly to smartphones worldwide. AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network that can be accessed directly by smartphones and is designed for both commercial and government use. The company stated on its website, “We are on a mission to bridge the connectivity gap for nearly six billion mobile subscribers and bring broadband to the billions of people who are still unconnected.”

AST SpaceMobile launched five satellites – BlueBird 1-5 – in September 2024, providing continuous internet coverage in the US and some other countries. The American company plans to launch similar satellites to expand its network support and has partnered with more than 50 mobile operators worldwide.

The largest commercial satellite to date
Now, AST SpaceMobile is launching its next-generation communication satellite, BlueBird Block-2, designed to provide 24/7 high-speed cellular broadband directly to smartphones worldwide. The BlueBird Block-2 satellite features a 223 m2 phased array, making it the largest commercial communication satellite ever deployed in low Earth orbit.

According to ISRO, this mission will be a commercial launch under an agreement between NewSpace India Limited and AST SpaceMobile. NewSpace India Limited is the commercial arm of ISRO, headquartered in Bengaluru. The BlueBird Block-2 mission will deploy a satellite constellation in low Earth orbit to provide direct-to-mobile connectivity. ISRO stated that this constellation will enable 4G and 5G voice and video calls, texting, streaming, and data services for anyone, anywhere, at any time.