Overview
- AST SpaceMobile shares fell about 12%–14% in premarket trading Monday following Sunday’s New Glenn insertion that left BlueBird 7 too low to operate and now headed for de-orbit.
- The company said insurance should repay the satellite’s cost, but the lost time threatens its plan to reach roughly 45 satellites in orbit by year-end 2026 when it needs about 45–60 for service.
- AST said production continues through BlueBird 32, with BlueBirds 8–10 slated to ship in about 30 days and a 2026 launch pace of one mission every one to two months.
- Analysts urged caution, with Scotiabank holding a Sell at $41.20 and UBS noting the direct financial hit is small but AST’s progress now depends on New Glenn’s performance.
- The setback lands as SpaceX’s Starlink expands and Amazon moves to buy Globalstar, and delays could push back direct-to-phone service that carriers and everyday smartphone users are waiting to try.