Overview
- AST SpaceMobile, which launched BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, said SpaceX’s Falcon 9 placed the three six-ton Block 2 satellites into low Earth orbit.
- The mission follows the May loss of BlueBird 7 after a Blue Origin upper-stage anomaly that left the satellite at too low an altitude and prompted AST to expect a replacement launch and record a $155–$160 million carrying-value loss.
- AST says BlueBirds 11–13 are being prepared for shipment and that satellites through BlueBird 37 are in production, reflecting a planned manufacturing ramp to increase launch cadence.
- Each Block 2 BlueBird carries about a 2,400-square-foot phased-array antenna designed to deliver peak speeds near 200 Mbps directly to unmodified smartphones under commercial deals with nearly 60 mobile operators.
- Critical next steps for turning these launches into revenue are successful in-orbit commissioning, carrier integrations, and construction of ground gateways, outcomes that will determine service timing and near-term financial results.