The company AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) has announced plans to launch its BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites on June 17, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The launch window is set to open at 2:39 a.m. Eastern Time and will last until 4:15 a.m.
This mission aims to deploy three next-generation BlueBird satellites, which are designed to expand the firm's direct-to-device broadband network.
This network can provide voice, data, and video connectivity directly to standard, unmodified smartphones.
The company indicated that the new satellites are expected to achieve peak data rates nearly double those of the first-generation Block 1 BlueBird satellites.
Larger antenna arrays are anticipated to deliver stronger signal gain and higher data transfer speeds.
Recent tests with the first-generation satellites have already demonstrated direct download speeds of 98.9 Mbps to smartphones.
Similar to the currently operational BlueBird 6 satellite, the BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites will each be equipped with a communications array covering approximately 2,400 square feet, positioning them among the largest commercial communication arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit.
Following this announcement, shares of AST SpaceMobile, Inc. rose, trading 7.54% higher in pre-market activity at $99.
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Midland, Texas, AST SpaceMobile, Inc. is the only publicly traded company focused exclusively on providing satellite direct-to-device broadband service.
Its core technology utilizes low Earth orbit satellites that function as "space-based cell towers," directly using partner cellular spectrum to enable standard smartphones to receive 4G/5G signals in areas without traditional coverage, such as remote mountains, oceans, or deserts.
The company operates on a "build-with-operators" model and has established partnerships with nearly 60 global mobile network operators, representing a potential user base of over 3 billion people.
Its partners include major carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Telus, Orange, and Telefónica.
In 2025, the company entered into definitive commercial agreements with both AT&T and Verizon, with the latter also being an investor in AST.