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

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Apparently delayed to NET December 21 per local reports: https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/andhra-pradesh/isro-bluebird-satellite-launch-postponed-to-december-21-1474445.html

(English translation here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ISRO/comments/1pkoihl/per_regional_media_report_lvm3m6bluebird6_launch/)

[GewoonLukas_]

On December 6, BlueBird 6 was encapsulated and timely handed off to the launcher for liftoff. The exact December launch date will be announced in the coming days.

This launch marks the beginning of our launch campaign, with a launch every forty-five days on average during 2026.

Stay tuned. Very excited for what is ahead.
#ASTSpaceMobile #BlueBird6 #NextGenBlueBird

https://twitter.com/AST_SpaceMobile/status/2000354990695821423

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Apparently delayed to NET December 21 per local reports: https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/andhra-pradesh/isro-bluebird-satellite-launch-postponed-to-december-21-1474445.html

(English translation here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ISRO/comments/1pkoihl/per_regional_media_report_lvm3m6bluebird6_launch/)

And now NET December 24: https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/andhra-pradesh/isro-to-launch-6500-kg-bluebird-communication-satellite-on-dec-24-1475573.html / https://www.reddit.com/r/ISRO/comments/1pnql7u/per_regional_media_report_lvm3m6bluebird6_launch/

[GewoonLukas_]

And now NET December 24: https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/andhra-pradesh/isro-to-launch-6500-kg-bluebird-communication-satellite-on-dec-24-1475573.html / https://www.reddit.com/r/ISRO/comments/1pnql7u/per_regional_media_report_lvm3m6bluebird6_launch/

New NOTAM confirms:

A3901/25 NOTAMN
Q) VOMF/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) VOMF PART 1 OF 2 B) 2512240250 C) 2512312359
D) 24 0250-0650 25 0230-0630 26 0210-0610 27 0140-0540
28 0120-0520 29 0100-0500 30 0040-0440 31 0010-0410 2350-2359
E) LVM3-M6 ROCKET LAUNCH FM SHAR RANGE, SRIHARIKOTA WILL TAKE
PLACE AS PER FLW DETAILS.THE LAUNCH WILL BE ON ANY ONE OF
THE DAY DRG THIS PERIOD.ACTUAL DATE OF LAUNCH WILL BE
INTIMATED 24 HR IN ADVANCE THRU A SEPARATE NOTAM.
LAUNCH PAD COORD: 134312N 0801348E
NO FLT IS PERMITTED OVER THE DNG ZONES.

[...]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://lvg.shar.gov.in/VSCREGISTRATION/index.jsp

Apparently the page once has the following information, but has since been removed (launch viewing registrations should have started an hour ago but hasn't either):

LVM3-M6 / Bluebird-6 on 24th December 2025, Wednesday at 08:54 AM (local)

[StraumliBlight]

https://twitter.com/ISROSpaceflight/status/2001634326761607484

LVM3-M6 carrying BlueBird-6 is set to lift off on Christmas Eve (24 December) at 8:54 AM IST!! 🎄🚀

[GewoonLukas_]

https://lvg.shar.gov.in/VSCREGISTRATION/index.jsp

Apparently the page once has the following information, but has since been removed (launch viewing registrations should have started an hour ago but hasn't either):

LVM3-M6 / Bluebird-6 on 24th December 2025, Wednesday at 08:54 AM (local)

Now back:

LVM3-M6/BLUEBIRD BLOCK-2 Mission

LAUNCH SCHEDULED

on 24th December 2025, Wednesday at 08:54 AM

[TheVarun]

 Very nice pic!  For viewers in Eastern Canada and the East Coast of the US, the launch will take place 10:30( 10:26) pm on Dec 23rd.

There is some doubt on reddit about the mass of the satellite. Is it really 6.5 tonnes, or more like 5.8. Whatever, it would still be the heaviest single satellite launched by ISRO.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/isro/status/2002018741039845873

🚀 LVM3-M6 Mission Launch Scheduled

The launch of LVM3-M6 is scheduled on 24 December 2025 at 08:54 hrs IST from the Second Launch Pad (SLP), SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.

👀 The public can witness the launch from the Launch View Gallery, SDSC SHAR by registering online:
👉 https://lvg.shar.gov.in/VSCREGISTRATION/index.jsp

#LVM3M6 #ISRO #LaunchUpdate #Sriharikota #LaunchViewGallery

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/AST_SpaceMobile/status/2002099151279120477

AST SpaceMobile
@AST_SpaceMobile

The countdown begins! BlueBird 6 is planned to launch on December 23, 2025 at 10:24 p.m. EST.

The mission marks the start of our next phase of execution, with a launch planned every 45 days on average during 2026, as we continue building space-based cellular broadband connectivity for all.

🎥 Watch live: http://youtube.com/live/vwdATsLffyU
Let’s go!🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch mission brochure: https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/LVM3M6/LVM3M6_Brochure_201225.pdf

[Starship_SpaceX]

The current estimate is 6100 kg, somewhere between 5800 kg and 6500 kg.

[StraumliBlight]

AST SpaceMobile is scheduled to launch the first of its next-generation satellites to low Earth orbit on December 23, 2025 at 10:24 p.m. EST. The mission, called BlueBird 6, will lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center aboard the LVM3 rocket. Watch AST SpaceMobile's webcast featuring new videos, a word from President Scott Wisniewski, a tour of our Midland facility, and interviews with our strategic partners American Tower and Rakuten.

The broadcast will begin approximately 30 minutes before launch time. The exact timing of launch is subject to change based on a number of factors, including readiness of the launch vehicle, weather conditions, and other factors – so stay tuned to AST SpaceMobile's social media channels for the latest updates.

[sstli2]

I see a lot of people concerned about the launch provider, but personally, I think there's a much bigger risk of an issue with satellite deployment and commissioning than the launch itself. This was notoriously described as such:

“The size of the antenna is terrifying…there’s only a handful of entities that have deployed a foldable thing in space that big and they’re NASA and intelligence entities…it’s an extremely difficult thing to do and it’s also more or less impossible to accurately test on the ground.”
— Former Director of Engineering at SpaceX, led team of 150 engineers across multiple disciplines

And that was regarding Bluebird Block 1, which is a fraction of size of this new Block 2 design.

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/SpaceIntel101/status/2003140064118030365

Space Intelligence
@SpaceIntel101

Orbital Launch no. 307 of 2025 🇮🇳🚀🛰️

Bluebird Block 2 FM1 | ISRO | December 24 | 0324 UTC

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/isro/status/2003630674050449707

Launch Day for #LVM3M6.
 
LVM3-M6 lifts off today at 08:55:30 IST with BlueBird Block-2 from SDSC SHAR.
 
Youtube Livestreaming link:
https://youtube.com/live/tNpY3wLE3nE
🕗 08:25 IST onwards
 
For More information Visit:
https://isro.gov.in/LVM3_M6_BlueBird_Block2_Mission.html
 
#LVM3M6 #BlueBirdBlock2 #ISRO #NSIL

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch has occurred on time with nominal spacecraft separation.

[catdlr]

Launch Highlight Video

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2003672683389796840

Jonathan McDowell
@planet4589
C25 shutdown and separation, the AST Space Mobile satellite appears to be in the planned orbit.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

(from AST Space Mobile Chairman/CEO Abel Avellan)

https://twitter.com/AbelAvellan/status/2003686320950988812

Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi, @isro, and @NSIL_India on the successful launch of our BlueBird 6 satellite—the largest-ever commercial communications satellite in low Earth orbit.🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

Perfect execution from both teams in India and the U.S. We are now in control of BlueBird 6 from our D.C. command center and with nominal telemetry! 🇺🇸🤠💪