The launch of the BlueBird-6 satellite, which belongs to the Indian national space agency, ISRO, or Indian Space Research Organisation, has now been postponed to December 21, 2025, from the original date of December 15, 2025, ISRO announced. This is because ISRO is completing all the necessary pre-launch requirements.
BlueBird-6 The Heaviest US Commercial Satellite Ever
BlueBird-6, a 6.5-tonne communication satellite, is under development by AST SpaceMobile, a US-based space technology firm. It is the most massive commercial satellite to be launched by ISRO so far, and this will be an outstanding event in space collaborations globally.
The satellite represents a part of a large global effort involving direct-to-device (D2D) broadband connectivity, which will enable all kinds of phones to connect to satellites in low Earth orbits without using any network in a conventional manner.
What Constitutes a Reasonable Period
The delay in the launch is due to the pre-launch integration and testing being conducted with the LVM3 ‘Bahubali’ launch vehicle, which is ISRO’s most powerful launch vehicle, meant for heavy satellites. The need for a seamless integration of systems right from the satellite to the launch vehicle stages is very important in this case because of the size and technology involved in ‘BlueBird-6’.
Although these postponements can be frustrating for space enthusiasts, they can be and indeed have occurred in missions involving critical communications technology.
The BlueBird-6 satellite is mounted with one of the largest phased array antennas in orbit, which measures approximately 2,400 square feet when deployed. The massive array of antennas is critical in facilitating the transmission of broadband signals to mobile phones all over the world.
Once it is in orbit, this satellite will have a low orbit in order to provide fast and low latency internet access to underserved areas, but particularly in remote regions where the network is not available.
Enhancing India-US Collaboration in Space
Meanwhile, this space mission further emphasises increasing technology collaborations between India and America. The BlueBird-6 launch vehicle marks another milestone in ISRO’s increasing participation in the international commercial launch service sector with the support of NewSpace India Limited.
ISRO thus continues to show its capabilities in dealing with satellites of such a large size, solidifying its name in the international community as a trusted space missions partner.
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