LVM3-M6

LVM3-M6

LVM3 launch
Launch	24 December 2025, 03:55 UTC [1]
Operator	ISRO / NSIL
Pad	SDSC SLP
Payload	BlueBird-6 (BlueBird Block 2 FM1)
LVM3 launches
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LVM3-M6 was the sixth flight and third commercial flight of ISRO's LVM3 rocket and the launch is marked as the 100th Orbital launch by ISRO since the first launch of SLV-3. Launched on 24 December 2025 from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, the mission successfully deployed the AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird-6 (BlueBird Block-2 FM1) communications satellite into low Earth orbit. ^{[2] [3]}

Mission overview

• Mass:
  • Payload weight:6,500 kg (14,300 lb) ^[1]
• Overall height:
• Propellant:
  • Stage 1 : Composite Solid (Solid Stage)
  • Stage 2 : Earth Storable Liquid (Liquid Stage)
  • Stage 3 : Cryogenic Liquid (Liquid Stage)
• Propellant mass:
  • Stage 1:205,000 kg (452,000 lb)
  • Stage 2:116,000 kg (256,000 lb)
  • Stage 3:28,000 kg (62,000 lb)
• Altitude:
• Maximum velocity:
• Inclination:
• Azimuth:
• Period:

Payload

In November 2024, AST SpaceMobile signed launch contracts to launch BlueBird Block 2 Satellites on ISRO's LVM3, SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. ^[4]

The payload of the mission was the BlueBird-6 Communications satellite built by AST SpaceMobile. ^[5]

Infograhic showing history of ISRO from first launch on SLV-3 to 100th launch on LVM3

References

1. "BlueBird Block 2 FM1". nextspaceflight.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
2. "LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 Mission". ISRO. 19 December 2025. Archived from the original on 30 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
3. Wall, Mike (24 December 2025) [23 December 2025]. "Indian rocket launches record-breaking BlueBird 6 smartphone satellite to orbit". Space.com . Archived from the original on 25 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
4. Robinson-Smith, Will (17 November 2024). "AST SpaceMobile secures multi-launch agreements with Blue Origin, ISRO and SpaceX". Archived from the original on 29 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
5. "ISRO's BlueBird-6 launch rescheduled to December 21: Heaviest US satellite to boost global broadband in major Indo-US mission". The Times of India . 15 December 2025. ISSN   0971-8257. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.