India is ready to make space history once again. ISRO’s most powerful rocket, the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), fondly called ‘Baahubali’, is set to lift off on December 24 at 8:54 am IST, carrying the heaviest satellite ever launched by an Indian rocket.

The mission will take off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota and will carry BlueBird 6, a next-generation communication satellite built by US-based company AST SpaceMobile. Weighing nearly 6,100 kg, BlueBird 6 sets a new record for Indian launch vehicles. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirmed that this is the heaviest satellite ever launched from India.

Standing 43.5 metres tall and weighing around 640 tonnes, the LVM3 is India’s strongest rocket. It has a perfect success record across seven missions, including the historic Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing in 2023. This upcoming flight, called LVM3-M6, will be its eighth mission and the third dedicated commercial launch, showing India’s growing role in the global space market.

What makes BlueBird 6 special is its technology. The satellite carries the largest antenna ever deployed in Low Earth Orbit, covering about 2,200 square metres. It is designed to deliver nearly ten times more data than earlier satellites.

Unlike other satellite internet systems that need special dishes or devices, BlueBird 6 aims to connect directly to normal smartphones. No extra hardware. Just space-based broadband reaching your phone. The company plans to launch 45 to 60 such satellites by 2026 to provide global 5G coverage, especially in remote and disaster-hit areas.

Though satellite internet is not yet licensed in India, this mission could influence future policy discussions. If successful, it may change how connectivity works across the world.

Another big moment for India’s space journey is about to unfold.