Success for AST Bluebirds
June 18, 2026

By Chris Forrester



A textbook launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket (owned by arch-rival SpaceX) took three AST SpaceMobile satellites into transfer orbit on June 17th from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The three craft – BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 – are the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit, measuring approximately 2,400 square feet. Their expansive antenna arrays enable direct, reliable connectivity to standard smartphones, with high power generation in orbit. The result is more targeted coverage, reduced interference, increased capacity, and a claimed seamless cellular broadband experience.


These next-generation satellites are designed to deliver nearly double the peak data speeds of the company’s initial Block 1 BlueBird satellites, which recently achieved peak download speeds of 98.9 Mbps directly to standard smartphones, supporting voice, broadband data, and video applications from space.

“BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 represent the continued execution of a vision once considered impossible: space-based cellular broadband to everyone, everywhere” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “Our team has built a new class of space-based cellular broadband technology that connects seamlessly to everyday smartphones. This is a fundamental transformation of how the world connects. We invented this market, and we are executing and advancing our network to make global, space-based cellular broadband a reality.”

The three craft were in a ‘stacked configuration’ within the Falcon 9’s fairing housing.

“This first stacked launch is just the beginning,” Avellan added. “BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13 will ship shortly for our next launch, while next-generation BlueBird satellites through BlueBird 37 are already in active production and assembly Our focus is firmly on execution: scaling launch cadence, manufacturing, and preparing for commercial service.”

AST SpaceMobile has agreements with nearly 60 mobile network operators globally representing more than 3 billion subscribers combined, together with strategic partnerships with AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Rakuten, Google, Bell, Telus, stc Group, and American Tower.