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AST SpaceMobile keeps 2026 target at 45 BlueBird satellites, pairs direct-to-device demo (98.9 Mbps) with SpaceX launch plan

AST SpaceMobile says it still expects to have 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit this year after a recent Blue Origin launch failure, with CEO Abel Avellan pointing to a mid-June SpaceX mission launching three BlueBirds. The company also reported a direct-to-device broadband test reaching 98.9 Mbps from space to a standard smartphone. In parallel, it issued a business update and first-quarter 2026 results.

Discovered 2026-05-11T15:48:46.650045-07:00 | 2026-05-11T15:48:46.650045-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

AST SpaceMobile is directly tying near-term constellation deployment to launch availability—confirming a BlueBird-in-orbit target (45 satellites this year) while shifting execution to SpaceX after a Blue Origin failure.
Its reported direct-to-device performance (98.9 Mbps from space to a standard smartphone, with no hardware changes) is a key validation point for commercial readiness and network economics.
The update matters alongside the company’s government-backed on-orbit tactical SATCOM work under SDA’s Europa effort, underscoring whether in-orbit capabilities are converging across commercial and defense use cases.

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