AST to start test services in July?
June 16, 2026

By Chris Forrester



AST SpaceMobile suffered a set-back in May when a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket failed to reach its correct orbit and the AST satellite was lost and eventually deorbited.

AST is hoping for a more positive result for two upcoming launches of satellites, and which could enable the operator to introduce a limited direct-to-cellular service to start later this summer.


The next launch will be of 3 AST BlueBird satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket on June 17th, when BlueBirds 8, 9 and 10 will launch. Liftoff is targeted for 2:39 a.m. Florida time with additional opportunities available 4:15 a.m. If needed, a backup launch opportunity is available on June 18th during a launch window that opens at 2:19 a.m. Florida tiime.

AST SpaceMobile is finishing the assembly and building of the next batch of BlueBird satellites 11, 12, and 13. While no precise orbital launch date has been publicised for these craft, the company is actively rolling out its next-generation constellation.

The company aims to mass-produce and deploy a broader set of second-generation BlueBird satellites to achieve continuous global space-based cellular broadband coverage. BlueBirds 11 through 33 are already in advanced production and assembly stages.

“Our upcoming launch marks another important milestone as we continue advancing the deployment of our space-based cellular broadband network,” said Scott Wisniewski, President of AST SpaceMobile. “Each BlueBird satellite launched expands our ability to support seamless space-based broadband mobile connectivity directly to everyday smartphones. Our next-generation BlueBird satellites, the largest phase-arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit, together with our expanding manufacturing capabilities, position AST SpaceMobile to continue scaling toward continuous global space-based cellular broadband coverage supported by a diversified launch strategy.”

The satellites aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will add capacity for AST’s cellular ambitions, buit first the satellites have to unfurl their giant arrays and then tested in orbit. So test transmissions are vital, and these test could be exploited to limited operational tests for their partner telcos in North America, Japan and Europe.