LVM3-M6 launches BlueBird Block-2, heaviest payload ever lifted from Indian soil
ISRO's LVM3-M6 lifted off from the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota on 24 December 2025 and placed AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird Block-2, the heaviest payload launched from Indian soil, in low Earth orbit.
Summary
ISRO's LVM3-M6 lifted off from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 24 December 2025 and placed the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile in low Earth orbit. BlueBird Block-2, of about 6,100 kg, is the heaviest payload launched from Indian soil and is designed to give space-based cellular broadband directly to ordinary smartphones. LVM3-M6 was the sixth operational flight of LVM3 and its third fully commercial mission, flown under an agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and AST SpaceMobile. LVM3 is a three-stage vehicle (S200 solid strap-ons, L110 liquid core, C25 cryogenic upper stage) that can carry 4,200 kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 24 December 2025, Second Launch Pad, SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota
- Satellite
- BlueBird Block-2 (AST SpaceMobile, USA), ~6,100 kg
- Record
- Heaviest payload launched from Indian soil
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit
- Mission
- 6th operational LVM3 flight; 3rd fully commercial (NSIL)
- LVM3 stages
- S200 strap-ons, L110 core, C25 cryogenic; 4,200 kg to GTO
Practice MCQs 3 questions
The BlueBird Block-2 satellite launched by LVM3-M6 on 24 December 2025 belongs to which company?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — AST SpaceMobile
ISRO and PIB 2208090: the mission launched the BlueBird Block-2 satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile under a commercial agreement with NSIL.
Into which orbit did LVM3-M6 place the BlueBird Block-2 satellite?
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Correct answer: A — Low Earth Orbit
ISRO and The Hindu: LVM3-M6 placed BlueBird Block-2 in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Consider the following statements about ISRO's LVM3: 1. LVM3-M6 was the sixth operational flight of LVM3. 2. LVM3's upper stage is the C25 cryogenic stage. 3. LVM3 can carry about 8,000 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
ISRO: LVM3-M6 is the sixth operational flight and LVM3 has S200 strap-ons, an L110 core and a C25 cryogenic upper stage. Its GTO capability is 4,200 kg, so statement 3 is wrong.