Record In Orbit: Colossal 223m² Satellite Launched (And It's Not From Starlink)

Record In Orbit: Colossal 223m² Satellite Launched (And It’s Not From Starlink)

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 29/12/2025 at 11:02

AST SpaceMobile lança BlueBird 6, o maior satélite comercial do mundo, para criar rede 5G global e rivalizar com a SpaceX.

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The Texas Company AST SpaceMobile Successfully Launched BlueBird 6, Which Became the Largest Commercial Satellite in History at 223 Square Meters, Aiming to Establish the First Global 5G Cellular Broadband Network to Compete Directly with SpaceX While Facing Warnings from Scientists About the Impact of Excessive Brightness in Orbit.

AST SpaceMobile Launches BlueBird 6 in India with 223 Square Meters to Start 5G Broadband Network and Compete with SpaceX

AST SpaceMobile Launched BlueBird 6, the Largest Commercial Satellite in the World, on December 23 in India. The equipment aims to establish a global cellular broadband network to compete with SpaceX.

Details of the Orbital Launch and Record Dimensions

The satellite departed aboard the Indian LVM3 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This event marks the beginning of a new era for the Texas company in the quest for global connectivity via space.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Testing History and Fleet Specifications

The company began its tests in September 2022 with the launch of BlueWalker 3. This set of antennas served to validate the innovative technology of orbital cellular towers developed by the company.

A significant milestone was achieved in 2023 with the completion of the first 5G phone call. The operation utilized BlueWalker 3 from space, proving the technical feasibility of direct communication with mobile devices.

AST SpaceMobile has already launched six BlueBird satellites to date. The latest model supports 10 gigahertz of bandwidth and speeds of 120 megabytes per second for devices.

Heads up! We’ve made the world's first space-based cellular voice calls directly to everyday, unmodified smartphones. Thanks to @ATT, @RakutenGroup, @VodafoneGroup and other testing partners for helping #ASTSpaceMobile make history. Read more here: https://t.co/i0kn4K1YeY pic.twitter.com/egfeKhlzYY

— AST SpaceMobile (@AST_SpaceMobile) April 25, 2023

Constellation Expansion and Data Coverage

The antenna set of the BlueBird 1 model measures about 64 square meters. After full deployment, its brightness increased by two magnitudes, overshadowing most visible objects in the night sky.

The new BlueBird 6 measures 223 square meters with its antenna set fully deployed. These proportions confirm its status as the largest commercial satellite ever placed in space by the current aerospace industry.

The company plans to launch between 45 and 60 additional satellites by the end of 2026. This expansion will allow for 5G data provision in the United States and in some other regions of the world.

Comparisons with Starlink and Scientific Warnings

SpaceX’s Starlink constellation currently has over 9,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. AST satellites are much larger, allowing for broader coverage with just one unit.

Astronomers point to the size of these sets as a problem for sky observations. Scientists have criticized the impact of these bright objects since SpaceX began launching thousands of Starlink satellites in 2019.

Astronomer Dr. Samantha Lawler stated in an interview that we are on the brink of the Kessler Syndrome. A destructive scenario could leave the feeling of being inside a snow globe after sunset.

NASA has already warned that these satellites could hinder the detection of dangerous asteroids. The agency fears that the visibility of objects on a collision course with Earth could be compromised by reflections.

Record In Orbit: Colossal 223m² Satellite Launched (And It’s Not From Starlink)

Details of the Orbital Launch and Record Dimensions

Testing History and Fleet Specifications

Constellation Expansion and Data Coverage

Comparisons with Starlink and Scientific Warnings

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Record In Orbit: Colossal 223m² Satellite Launched (And It’s Not From Starlink)

Details of the Orbital Launch and Record Dimensions

Testing History and Fleet Specifications

Constellation Expansion and Data Coverage

Comparisons with Starlink and Scientific Warnings

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