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India Launches Giant Satellite for Mobile Connectivity
24 Dec
Summary
- LVM3 rocket successfully launched US satellite BlueBird Block-2.
- Satellite features largest commercial comms antenna in orbit.
- Service aims for direct-to-mobile 4G/5G connectivity.
India's LVM3 rocket successfully executed its sixth operational flight on Wednesday, placing the US communications satellite BlueBird Block-2 into low Earth orbit. This mission marked the heaviest payload ever lifted by the LVM3, weighing 6100kg.
The launch from Sriharikota injected the satellite into a circular orbit approximately 520km high. This mission was a commercial endeavor between NewSpace India Limited and US-based AST & Science LLC. The satellite is part of a constellation targeting global direct-to-mobile connectivity.
BlueBird Block-2 features a massive 223 square metre phased-array antenna, the largest for a commercial satellite in low Earth orbit. It is engineered to support 4G and 5G voice, video calls, and data services directly on standard mobile phones.
