AMERICAN SATELLITE LAUNCHED by ISRO, INDIA

Описание: BlueBird Block‑2 is a very heavy, next‑generation American communication satellite built by AST SpaceMobile to provide direct 4G/5G connectivity from space to normal smartphones. ���Basic payload characteristicsType: Commercial broadband communication satellite for direct‑to‑mobile service (4G/5G) to standard smartphones without special antennas. ���Mass: About 6,100 kg, making it the heaviest payload ever placed into low Earth orbit by India’s LVM3 rocket. ����Orbit: Circular low Earth orbit around 520 km altitude, inclination about 53 degrees. ��Antenna and communication systemPhased‑array antenna: Around 223 m² (about 2,400 square feet), cited as the largest commercial communications antenna deployed in low Earth orbit. ����Functions: Supports voice calls, video calls, messaging, video streaming, and broadband data directly to regular mobile phones, targeting global coverage including remote and oceanic regions. ���Role in the constellationConstellation: Part of AST SpaceMobile’s low Earth orbit BlueBird constellation designed to provide near‑global cellular broadband coverage. ���Capacity: Block‑2 satellites are designed for much higher bandwidth than earlier BlueBirds (up to roughly 10×), supporting continuous coverage over large areas like nearly all of the US with thousands of coverage cells and peak data rates up to about 120 Mbps per beam. ��Mission and customerCustomer/Operator: AST SpaceMobile (AST & Science LLC), USA. ����Mission objective: Demonstrate and deliver space‑based cellular broadband as a commercial service, while also showcasing India’s heavy‑lift capability for large commercial satellites. ����

ISRO has just launched a large American communication satellite called BlueBird Block‑2 for US company AST SpaceMobile using its heavy-lift rocket LVM3-M6 from Sriharikota. ����What was launched?The payload is BlueBird Block‑2, a next‑generation US commercial communication satellite built for AST SpaceMobile. ���It is designed to provide direct-to-smartphone broadband connectivity from space, without needing ground towers in remote areas. ��Launch detailsLauncher: ISRO’s heaviest operational rocket LVM3-M6 (earlier called GSLV Mk III). ���Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. ��Orbit: The mission placed BlueBird Block‑2 into low Earth orbit, suitable for low‑latency mobile communication. ���Why is it significant?This mission carried the heaviest satellite payload ever launched to low Earth orbit by LVM3 from India, marking a major milestone for India’s commercial launch capability. ��It strengthens India–US space collaboration and shows that ISRO can launch very heavy foreign commercial satellites competitively. ���Related Indo–US satellite missions