8 months ago
Bluebird Block-2 Satellite Set for Operations
A big new satellite called Bluebird Block-2 was sent into space by India's ISRO on December 24, 2025.
This satellite, made by a company called AST SpaceMobile, is the largest of its kind and will help people use their regular phones to connect to the internet from space.
It can provide fast internet like 4G and 5G, and it's meant to work for both regular people and governments.
The company plans to send many more satellites like this in the next few years.
The satellite is now in space and will start working soon, maybe in a few weeks.
This is a big step for the company and shows that their idea of using satellites to give internet to phones is working.
Bluebird Block-2 satellite, developed by AST SpaceMobile, was successfully launched by ISRO's LVM3-M6 rocket on December 24, 2025.
The satellite is the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in Low Earth Orbit, spanning 2,400 sq ft.
It is designed to provide 4G and 5G space-based cellular broadband directly to standard smartphones and government applications.
Operations are expected to commence in the coming weeks, according to AST SpaceMobile COO Shanti B Gupta.
AST SpaceMobile plans to launch 45-60 satellites by the end of 2026, with launches scheduled every one or two months.
- Who
- AST SpaceMobile (developer), ISRO (launch provider)
- What
- Launch and upcoming operations of Bluebird Block-2 satellite
- Where
- Launched from India, intended for Low Earth Orbit
- When
- Launched on December 24, 2025; operations to start in coming weeks (as of December 28, 2025)
- Why
- To provide space-based cellular broadband directly to standard smartphones and government applications
Key facts
- Satellite Name
- Bluebird Block-2 (Bluebird 6)
- Developer
- AST SpaceMobile
- Launch Date
- December 24, 2025
- Launch Vehicle
- ISRO's LVM3-M6 (Bahubali rocket)
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
- Size
- 2,400 sq ft (largest commercial communications array)
- Applications
- 4G/5G space-based cellular broadband, government applications
- Expected Operations Start
- Coming weeks (as of December 28, 2025)
Quotes
Shanti B Gupta
COO of AST SpaceMobile
“In the coming weeks it will start operations”
thehindubusinessline.com
AST SpaceMobile
Company that developed the Bluebird Block-2 satellite
“Bluebird 6 has become the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in the Low Earth orbit as it spans 2,400 sq ft, three times larger than the previous Bluebird satellites 1-5 launched in September 2024.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Abel Avellan
Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile
“This launch validates years of US innovation and American manufacturing, executed by our team and marks the transition to scaled deployment. With Bluebird 6 now in orbit, we are firmly on the path to delivering true space-based cellular broadband directly to smartphones at a global scale.”
thehindubusinessline.com
