The 15th December launch of AST SpaceMobile Inc’s 6.5-ton BlueBird 6 satellite aboard India’s LVM3 rocket has been postponed, it is reliably learnt. While neither AST SpaceMobile nor senior officials of ISRO responded to queries, it is understood that the scheduled launch has been deferred.
It is not known whether the launch postponement is connected to issues relating to the satellite or the rocket or the weather or something else. A revised launch date has not yet been announced, though the mission is now expected to take place on or after 20th December.
Weighing 6.5 tons, BlueBird 6 will be the heaviest satellite ever placed into LEO by the LVM3 launch vehicle, which currently maintains a 100% mission success record.
Gen 2 for AST SpaceMobile
BlueBird 6 marks the debut of AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation satellite fleet. These advanced satellites feature nearly 2,400 square feet arrays, which will make them the largest commercial phased arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit, claims AST SpaceMobile. The company said BlueBird 6 is expected to deliver ten times more data capacity.
AST SpaceMobile is developing what it describes as the world’s first and only space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect directly to standard smartphones, serving both commercial and government users. “Our next-generation satellites will soon enable ubiquitous cellular broadband coverage direct to everyday smartphones from space,” Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, had said earlier.
“As an American company, we are proud to demonstrate U.S. leadership in space innovation while pioneering the next era of global connectivity.” The company is ramping up production, with hardware equivalent to 40 satellites expected to be completed by early 2026.
AST SpaceMobile plans five orbital launches by the end of the first quarter of 2026, spaced one to two months apart, and is targeting 45–60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026 to enable continuous coverage across the United States and select international markets.
AST SpaceMobile’s expansion is supported by nearly 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and operations facilities worldwide, including about 400,000 square feet in the U.S., and a global workforce of nearly 1,800 employees, most of whom are based in the United States.
The BlueBird 6 launch contract was arranged through NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of India’s Department of Space. AST SpaceMobile will be the second satellite broadband customer to fly on the LVM3, following Eutelsat OneWeb, which launched 72 satellites across two LVM3 missions in 2022 and 2023. It should be noted that after the two launches nothing has been heard about OneWeb contracting Indian rockets for its satellites.
India’s LVM3 is a three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle weighing approximately 642 tons and standing 43.5 meters tall. It can carry around 10 tons to LEO and about 4 tons to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), with ISRO currently working to increase its GTO capacity to 5 tons.
Though AST SpaceMobile plans 45-60 satellites by the end of 2026, it is not known how much of that will be by Indian rockets.
Published by Venkatachari Jagannathan
V.Jagannathan (Byline Venkatachari Jagannathan), is a freelance journalist based in Chennai, India covering the country’s space, nuclear, insurance, automobile and several other industries. Jagannathan was with IANS newswire, one of India’s premier news agencies and his articles – news, news analysis, interviews, profiles and others- on various sectors were published in several leading print, online publications within and outside India. He was also with India’s first online business magazine www.domain-b.com. A school and college chess player Jagannathan also writes about Indian chess and has covered World Chess Championships, Chess Olympiads and others.