AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird #6 is due to launch on December 24th on an India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rocket. But news has emerged that many of the follow-on satellite fleet are now firmly in production. Production of satellites 8-to-19 were known about. That portfolio has now been extended to a total of 25 of these […]

After a considerable delay and much-promised delivery dates, India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that AST SpaceMobile’s (AST) FM1 (aka BlueBird 6) will definitely launch during the first week of December. It is quite possible that BlueBird 7 (aka FM2) could also launch in December, although there is considerable uncertainty as to who will […]

Following on from a four-day air-journey on a giant Antonov aircraft ended in being unloaded on October 16th at Chennai airport. The aircraft carried the first of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird second-generation satellites (FM1). The satellite was then transferred by a simple truck to the Indian ISRO launch site where it will undergo final tests in […]

AST SpaceMobile needs to get its second-generation satellites into orbit speedily. The first of these craft, weighing some 6500 kgs, is much-delayed in its promised launch date. Now, AST insists that the satellite is ready to leave its Midland, Texas, fabrication facility and will be shipped this August. Then there’s the question of the rocket […]

AST SpaceMobile’s FM1 craft is reportedly not going to be launched as speedily as hoped. According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is responsible for launching the important broadband satellite, it can happen before the end of [India’s] financial year, which is December 31st. There have been numerous reports that ISRO is not […]

The Indian space programme is expanding and its rocket building and launching capabilities are now matching the best from the rest of the world. In a month or two India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will loft AST SpaceMobile’s heavyweight low Earth orbiting FM1 satellites – and which weighs around 6,500kgs – into orbit. Chairman of […]

India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is contracted to launch an important heavyweight satellite (FM1) for AST Space Mobile (AST). The launch was originally said to happen in June, then the date slipped to July. Then to August. But now there’s talk of a further delay. India news sources say that – in essence – the […]

AST SpaceMobile (AST), which is looking to establish a space-based ‘direct-to-cellular’ service, will use an Indian rocket to launch two of its Block-2 Bluebird satellites. The current information is that the launch could take place in March although this is not yet confirmed. What has been confirmed is that India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will […]

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to lay the foundation stone for construction of the new facility on February 28th which will come up in an area of 2,233 acres in Padukkapathu, near Chennai in Tamul Nadu. India’s government has completed land acquisition for the ambitious project which will be built at a cost of […]

An Indian rocket successfully placed 36 OneWeb satellites into their transfer orbits on March 26th at 9.00am local time. The launch means there are now 618 OneWeb craft in orbit. OneWeb needs only 588 for global coverage. The remainders will act as ‘in orbit spares’ in case replacements are needed. By the year-end, OneWeb will […]