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AST SpaceMobile sets Aug. 5 launch for BlueBirds 11-13
The satellite launch is scheduled days before AST SpaceMobile’s Q2 business update on Aug. 10, as it works toward its goal of 45 BlueBirds in low Earth orbit by early 2027.
AST SpaceMobile has scheduled the launch of its next BlueBird satellite batch for Aug. 5, targeting the liftoff of BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13. The company said the successful June deployment of BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 will be followed by this next cohort as it expands its direct-to-device (D2D) constellation.
AST SpaceMobile’s stated timeline continues to aim for putting 45 BlueBirds into low Earth orbit by early 2027. The company also said satellites 14 through 16 are already being prepared, and production has progressed through satellite 42.
The Aug. 5 launch comes just days ahead of AST SpaceMobile’s Q2 business update, with the company planning to deliver that update and report Q2 earnings on Aug. 10. The company is positioning the new satellites as a key test of whether its expanding constellation can support commercial service and justify its valuation, particularly amid recent weakness in space stocks.
AST SpaceMobile said its strategic partnerships include AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, American Tower, Google, Rakuten, and other mobile network operators, and it also supports U.S. government applications and contracts. The company expects the next group of satellites to deliver nearly double the peak download speeds achieved by Block 1 BlueBirds, which it described as reaching 98.9 Mbps peak D2D download speeds directly to smartphones.