AST SpaceMobile now has a fairly dependable launch date for its BlueBird 6 satellite, the first of its ‘second generation’ craft. It will be launched by India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on December 24th from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Center.

The India launches have been something of a moveable feast, with assorted dates supplied ranging from November to mid-December.

“Our next-generation satellites will soon enable ubiquitous cellular broadband coverage direct to everyday smartphones from space,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “As an American company, we are proud to demonstrate US leadership in space innovation while pioneering the next era of global connectivity.”

AST is accelerating production with 40 satellites on track to be completed by early 2026. The company expects five orbital launches by the end of Q1 2026, with launches occurring every one to two months on average to reach 45–60 satellites launched by the end of 2026 and support continuous coverage across the US and select markets. This ramp-up is supported by nearly 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and operations facilities worldwide, including roughly 400,000 square feet in the US, and a global workforce of nearly 1,800 people, the overwhelming majority of whom are based in the US.

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Categories: Articles, Broadband, Satellite

Tags: AST SpaceMobile, BlueBird