ISRO's Bahubali Rocket to Launch 6.5-Ton Satellite, Bringing Mobile Network from Space

• ISRO's LVM3 'Bahubali' rocket is set to launch AST SpaceMobile's 6.5-ton 'BlueBird 6' satellite on December 24 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
• This mission marks LVM3's heaviest flight to date and is ISRO's most significant commercial launch for 2025, showcasing India's growing space capabilities.
• The 'BlueBird 6' satellite will deploy a 2400 sq ft antenna, aiming to create the world's first space-based cellular broadband network, providing direct-to-smartphone connectivity.
• AST SpaceMobile chose ISRO's LVM3 over SpaceX, underscoring the 'Bahubali' rocket's 100% success record and India's 'heavy-lift' prowess in the global space market.
• The satellite will revolutionize mobile connectivity by delivering network directly from space, eliminating the need for traditional mobile towers.

Why It Matters: ISRO's Bahubali rocket launches 6.5-ton satellite for direct-to-phone network from space.