BlueBird-6 Launch: ISRO’s LVM3 to Carry Heaviest US Satellite
Why in the news
ISRO lined up a major India-US space collaboration: launching BlueBird-6, the heaviest American commercial satellite it has handled.
Key facts
- Rocket: LVM3 (Bahubali), three stages.
- Orbit: low-Earth orbit; use is direct-to-device mobile broadband.
- Antenna: nearly 2,400 sq ft, 3.5 times BlueBird 1-5 (Block-2 series).
Significance
- Aims to bridge the digital divide in areas without ground networks.
- LVM3 earlier carried CMS-3 (4.4 tonnes) on 2 November 2025.
Exam angle
- Vehicle: LVM3; orbit: LEO.
- Operator: AST SpaceMobile.