SpaceX completed a launch for AST SpaceMobile early Wednesday morning, marking the first mission to stack three BlueBird satellites in the launch fairing.
SpaceX launched the BlueBird 8, 9, 10 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, lifting off at 2:39 EDT on Wednesday, June 17. AST SpaceMobile confirmed the mission was successful.
These satellites will support AST SpaceMobile’s cellular broadband network from space. The satellites are designed to deliver peak data speeds of nearly 200 Mbps to standard smartphones, which the company says will provide voice, broadband data, and video from space.
“This first stacked launch is just the beginning,” Abel Avellan, AST SpaceMobile founder and CEO commented. “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.”
The company is working to deploy its constellation in order to start commercial service. It faced a recent setback when a Blue Origin New Glenn vehicle deployed its satellite to the wrong orbit in late April. Executives recently told investors they still expect to have 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit this year.
