By year end 2026, AST SpaceMobile should have more than 20 of its giant BlueBird satellites in orbit. The current plan is that AST will launch its next three BlueBird satellites (#11, #12, #13) on August 5th, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

There is also speculation that another batch (#14, #15, #16) of satellites will launch in September, again using SpaceX as its delivery source.

AST has announced that it has completed or has under construction satellites through to BlueBird #42.

Once AST has around 20-25 satellites in orbit then some key commercial and government contracts will be triggered.

AST is reported to have booked five Falcon 9 launches with SpaceX, and some reports say it is more than five. At three launches per craft, plus an expected Blue Origin New Glenn launch before the end of the year, AST seems certain to reach its first target. It has already guided to expect 45 satellites to be in position by the spring of 2027.

Vodafone has already stated that it will start ‘beta’ connections with AST “at the beginning of 2027”.

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Tags: AST SpaceMobile, satellite, spacex