BlueBird 6 (Block 2 #1)

Mission

BlueBird 6 (Block 2 #1) on Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (GSLV Mk III). Wed 24 Dec 2025, 03:25:30 UTC. Reported outcome: Success. Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad. Source: Launch Library 2.

AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird Block 1 satellites, required to achieve 24/7 continuous cellular broadband service coverage in the United States, with beams designed to support a capacity of up to 40 MHz, enabling peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting voice, full data and video applications. The Block 2 BlueBirds, featuring as large as 2400 square foot communications arrays, will be the largest satellites ever commercially deployed in Low Earth orbit once launched. This launch will feature a single satellite.

Mission type

Communications

Orbit

Low Earth Orbit

Launch timeline

Times are relative to liftoff.

1. T-0Wed 24 Dec, 04:25 CET

   Booster Ignition

   Ignition of the solid rocket boosters.

2. T+1 min 45.98 sWed 24 Dec, 04:27 CET

   Ignition

   Start of the engine ignition sequence

3. T+2 min 12.46 sWed 24 Dec, 04:27 CET

   SRB Separation

   The solid rocket boosters are separated from the launcher.

4. T+2 min 54 sWed 24 Dec, 04:28 CET

   Fairing Separation

   Separation of the payload fairing

5. T+5 min 1.96 sWed 24 Dec, 04:30 CET

   Stage 2 Separation

   Separation of the second stage from the first

6. T+5 min 4.36 sWed 24 Dec, 04:30 CET

   SES

   Start of the second engine

7. T+15 min 39 sWed 24 Dec, 04:41 CET

   SECO

   Cut-off of the second engine

8. T+15 min 42.52 sWed 24 Dec, 04:41 CET

   Payload Separation

   Final deployment of the payload from the rocket

Slip history

Changes recorded by Space Right Now

No changes since we started tracking on Sat 10 Oct 2026, 11:18 UTC.

Launch pad

Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad

Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India (IN)

Coordinates: 13.7199, 80.2304