LVM3 M6 : BlueBird Block 2 : SLP : 24 December 2025 (03:25 UTC)

[StraumliBlight]

https://twitter.com/AST_SpaceMobile/status/2003702440613560479

AST SpaceMobile Announces Successful Orbital Launch of BlueBird 6, the Largest Commercial Communications Array Ever Deployed in Low Earth Orbit [Dec 24]

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. today announced the successful orbital launch of BlueBird 6.

The BlueBird 6 mission lifted off at 10:25 p.m. EST on December 23 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. BlueBird 6 becomes now the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in low Earth orbit, spanning nearly 2,400 square feet, three times larger than AST SpaceMobile’s previous record-breaking BlueBirds 1-5, engineered to deliver commercial and government applications, including high-speed 4G and 5G space-based cellular broadband directly to standard, unmodified smartphones, and government applications that benefit from the power, size, and patented technology of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird spacecrafts.

“BlueBird 6 is a breakthrough moment for AST SpaceMobile,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “This launch validates years of U.S. innovation and American manufacturing, executed by our team and marks the transition to scaled deployment. With BlueBird 6 now in orbit, we are firmly on the path to delivering true space-based cellular broadband directly to everyday smartphones, at a global scale.”

Today’s successful launch kicks off our next phase of execution and keeps us on track to launch 45–60 satellites by the end of 2026, with launches planned every one or two months on average.

https://twitter.com/isro/status/2003761779038736386

Watch the on-board camera visuals from #LVM3M6 capturing the journey of BlueBird Block-2 from liftoff to spacecraft injection.

https://twitter.com/isro/status/2003690794503618649

What a moment! Relive the #LVM3M6 liftoff highlights here:

[PM3]

This launch has set a new record of 34 orbital launch attempts within the same month. The previous record of 33 was set yesterday by the first CZ-12A launch. Up to eight more records are expected until end of year.

[StraumliBlight]

https://twitter.com/FloridaSaltyman/status/2009093040472776817

Possible array deployment.

[zubenelgenubi]

Are there any visual observations yet?  I, like other amateur astronomers, are interested in the observed visual magnitude, any specular reflections, etc.

[catdlr]

AST SpaceMobile
@AST_SpaceMobile
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1h
AST SpaceMobile Successfully Completes Unfolding of BlueBird 6, the Largest Commercial Communications Array Antenna Ever Deployed in Low Earth Orbit

https://businesswire.com/news/home/20260210108166/en/AST-SpaceMobile-Successfully-Completes-Unfolding-of-BlueBird-6-the-Largest-Commercial-Communications-Array-Antenna-Ever-Deployed-in-Low-Earth-Orbit

https://twitter.com/AST_SpaceMobile/status/2021392723304235031

BlueBird 6 is fully UNFOLDED! 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

At nearly 2,400 square feet, this is now the LARGEST ever commercial communications array ever deployed in low Earth orbit - we just broke our own record!!!

A true breakthrough in space-based cellular broadband, the technology that we invented, built in America by our team in Texas.🤠💪🇺🇸

https://twitter.com/AbelAvellan/status/2021396405269430584