AST SpaceMobile launches three more BlueBird satellites on Falcon 9

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) launched its BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites on June 17, with liftoff occurring at 2:39 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The three satellites, which the company claims are the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit, each measure approximately 2,400 square feet. They are designed to deliver peak data speeds of nearly 200 Mbps directly to standard smartphones, supporting voice, broadband data, and video applications.

The Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver nearly double the peak speeds of the company's initial Block 1 satellites, which the company said recently achieved peak download speeds of 98.9 Mbps directly to standard smartphones.

According to a company statement, BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13 are in final preparations for shipment to Cape Canaveral, while production continues through BlueBird 37.

"BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 represent the continued execution of a vision once considered impossible: space-based cellular broadband to everyone, everywhere," said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile.

The satellites are assembled at the company's facilities in Midland, Texas. AST SpaceMobile states it operates over 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and operations facilities worldwide, with a workforce of more than 2,250 employees.

The company has agreements with nearly 60 mobile network operators globally, representing more than 3 billion subscribers. Strategic partners include AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Rakuten, Google, Bell, Telus, stc Group, and American Tower. Target markets include the United States, Canada, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Alphabet Sees FY26 Capex $195B To $205B, Saw $180B To $190B
• Wex, Inc. (WEX) Tops Q2 EPS by 29c; raises guidance
• GE Aerospace and Magellan sign F414 engine MRO deal for Canada