AST SpaceMobile is targeting a mid-June 2026 launch of three new Block 2 BlueBird satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, according to company filings. BlueBirds 8 and 10 have already arrived at the Cape from AST''s Midland, Texas integration facility, with BlueBird 9 en route. The mission puts AST''s goal of 45 to 60 operational satellites by year-end back within reach after the April loss of BlueBird 7.
Block 2 satellites with industry-leading antennas
The Block 2 BlueBirds feature the largest commercial phased-array antennas ever deployed in low Earth orbit. Each is capable of supporting up to 120 Mbps peak data rates and connects directly to standard, unmodified 4G and 5G smartphones – a key requirement for AST''s direct-to-device cellular partnerships with AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone and Rakuten.
SpaceX as a strategic backstop
The company shifted to a Falcon 9 booking after exploring Blue Origin and other launch options. The pivot underscores SpaceX''s dominance in commercial smallsat lift even as SpaceX prepares its own IPO. AST said it negotiated a multi-launch services agreement with SpaceX that should de-risk the rest of the 2026 manifest.
Recovering from BlueBird 7
In April, BlueBird 7 failed to reach its target altitude and was deorbited – a setback that put pressure on the build-out timeline. Engineers traced the issue to a propulsion subsystem and have implemented hardware changes across subsequent units. AST said BlueBirds 8-10 have completed integrated thermal and vibration testing without anomalies.
Wider satellite-constellation race
The launch comes amid an unusually active satellite race. SpaceX''s Starlink is now at more than 50 dedicated 2026 missions, and defense-tech specialists are increasingly turning to LEO constellations for tactical comms.
Reporting based on coverage from SatNews, Yahoo Finance and SEC filings.