On December 24, 2025, at 8.55 a.m., ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Fifteen minutes later, it successfully placed the BlueBird Block-2 satellite into low Earth orbit. This marks two major achievements for ISRO: launching the largest commercial communications satellite into low Earth orbit and deploying the heaviest payload (6,100 kg) ever launched by LVM3 from Indian soil. ISRO chairman V. Narayanan declared the mission a success. The BlueBird Block-2 satellite, developed by AST SpaceMobile from the USA, is designed to offer space-based cellular broadband directly to regular mobile phones. This satellite is part of a global Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation aiming to provide 4G and 5G voice, video calls, texting, streaming, and data services worldwide. ISRO stated, "BlueBird block-2 mission is part of a global LEO constellation to provide direct-to-mobile connectivity through satellite. This constellation will enable 4G and 5G voice and video calls, texts, streaming, and data for everyone, everywhere, at all times. It features a 223m² phased array, making it the largest commercial communications satellite ever deployed into low Earth orbit." This mission was the sixth operational flight of LVM3 and the third dedicated commercial mission. Previously, LVM3 has launched Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb missions carrying 72 satellites. The last LVM3 launch was the LVM3-M5/CMS-03 mission on November 2, 2025.