AST SpaceMobile loses BlueBird 7 satellite due to launch vehicle issue

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AST SpaceMobile Addresses Today’s Orbital Launch of BlueBird 7 on the New Glenn Launch Vehicle

April 19, 2026 2:02 PM EDT

MIDLAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobile") (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, addresses todays orbital launch of BlueBird 7 on the New Glenn launch vehicle.

During the New Glenn 3 mission, BlueBird 7 was placed into a lower than planned orbit by the upper stage of the launch vehicle. While the satellite separated from the launch vehicle and powered on, the altitude is too low to sustain operations with its on-board... More