MIDLAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, and designed for both commercial and government applications, today announced launch services agreements securing the orbital launch capacity to enable continuous space-based cellular broadband service coverage across some of the most in-demand cellular markets globally. AST SpaceMobile's global service will initially target key markets such as the United States, Europe, Japan, the U.S. Government and other strategic markets. The Cape Canaveral Florida Space Force Station launch campaign, scheduled during 2025 and 2026, will utilize existing launch vehicles and Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket for up to ~60 Block 2 satellites to low Earth orbit.
During their quarterly earning's call, AST's CEO said that the 1st BlueBird Block 2 satellite will be launched by ISRO's GSLV rocket, followed by 2 Falcon 9 launches with 4 satellites each. The remaining satellites would then be launched by Blue Origin. https://spacenews.com/ast-spacemobile-leans-on-blue-origin-to-ramp-up-satellite-launches/
AST SpaceMobile during their conference call last night stated that starting late 2025 they hope to launch with New Glenn every 45 days. Appears they are planning on 1-2 NG launches later this year and then 8-10 in 2026. "With the New Glenn, we can launch up to eight satellites per launch, that pretty much double the cadence of what is possible with the Falcon 9 and we expect later in the year to start moving to a launch cadence of around one launch every 45 days on the New Glenn. We have other launches also that have been secured in advance to that."
We expect to ship the first next-generation Block 2 BB satellite to the launch provider in August 2025 and commence our launch campaign shortly thereafter of over 60 Block 2 BB satellites in 2025 through 2026 at a cadence of one launch approximately every one to two months on average.
We have placed orders for procurement of substantially all materials and components needed, in accordance with our production plan, for the assembly, integration and testing of the next 20 Block 2 BB satellites. In addition, subject to our ability to raise additional capital, we plan to continue to accelerate the procurement of components and materials needed for us to complete fully assembled microns and phased array for 53 Block 2 BB satellites and complete 40 fully integrated and assembled Block 2 BB satellites. Our manufacturing, assembly, and testing strategy for Block 2 BB satellites includes continuous production and assembly of various components and sub systems for economies of scale, cost efficiencies, and unlocking capacity constraints, to build sufficient quantity of components and sub systems readily available on hand to be able to complete the final integration and testing of the required number of Block 2 BB satellites closer to the planned launch timelines. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we have completed production of various components and sub systems and have completed assembly of microns for multiple Block 2 BB satellites. We will continue with manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing of the Block 2 BB satellites at our current capacity and once we complete our planned investments to increase the capacity to assemble, integrate, and test up to six Block 2 BB satellites per month in 2025, we plan to accelerate the manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing of the Block 2 BB satellites to meet our planned launches in 2025 and 2026.
Launch is scheduled 3-4 months from now according to ISRO's Chairman. Satellite will ship to India next month:QuoteAfter NISAR, ISRO gearing up for next U.S. collaboration with BlueBird communications satellite launchAugust 01, 2025The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is hoping to launch the Block 2 BlueBird communications satellite, developed by the U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile, in three to four months from now, chairman of the space agency V. Narayanan said in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Friday (August 1, 2025).[...]The BlueBird satellite is expected to arrive in India in September, he said. Work is also progressing on the mission launch vehicle.[...]
After NISAR, ISRO gearing up for next U.S. collaboration with BlueBird communications satellite launchAugust 01, 2025The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is hoping to launch the Block 2 BlueBird communications satellite, developed by the U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile, in three to four months from now, chairman of the space agency V. Narayanan said in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Friday (August 1, 2025).[...]The BlueBird satellite is expected to arrive in India in September, he said. Work is also progressing on the mission launch vehicle.[...]
During the 2Q ER on 8/11/25 the CEO Abel mentioned launches on average of 6 or 8 satellites, did not mention the 3 or 4 like before for a single F9. Could they have switched to Falcon Heavy with extended faring to fit 6?
Tim Farrar poking some pretty major holes in AST's earnings call: https://bsky.app/profile/tmfassociates.bsky.social/post/3lw6l7kw35s2f
BlueBird 6 has completed final assembly and testing and is ready for flight! 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 On October 12, it will head to India aboard an Antonov large cargo plane ✈️We are officially kicking off our next-gen launch campaign:• BlueBird 7 is expected to ship to the Cape Canaveral launch site in October• BlueBirds 8-16 are in various stages of production, with launches planned every 1-2 months on average during 2025 and 2026• On track to complete 40 phased arrays by early 2026, bringing us to BlueBird 46• Expecting 45-60 satellites in orbit by year-end 2026[...]
With CMS-02 (GSAT-7R) being the next launch off of SLP that pushes BlueBird Block 2 FM1 to at least late October and therefore this launch to at least late November.
Targeting first week of December per ISRO officials:QuoteLVM-3 to launch CMS-03 on November 2; Nisar to begin operations soonOct 23, 2025[...]Following the launch of CMS-03, Isro will carry out another LVM-3 mission which will launch US private communication satellite Bluebird. “We are looking at first week of December,” Narayanan told TOI in a separate interview.[...]NOTAM has also been updated to November 2nd:Quote A3247/25 NOTAMNQ) VOMF/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/A) VOMF PART 1 OF 2 B) 2511021130 C) 2511201530D) 1130-1530E) LVM3-M5 ROCKET LAUNCH FM SHAR RANGE, SRIHARIKOTA WILL TAKEPLACE AS PER FLW DETAILS.THE LAUNCH WILL BE ON ANY ONE OFTHE DAY DRG THIS PERIOD.ACTUAL DATE OF LAUNCH WILL BEINTIMATED 24 HR IN ADVANCE THRU A SEPARATE NOTAM.LAUNCH PAD COORD: 134312N 0801348ENO FLT IS PERMITTED OVER THE DNG ZONES.[...]
LVM-3 to launch CMS-03 on November 2; Nisar to begin operations soonOct 23, 2025[...]Following the launch of CMS-03, Isro will carry out another LVM-3 mission which will launch US private communication satellite Bluebird. “We are looking at first week of December,” Narayanan told TOI in a separate interview.[...]
A3247/25 NOTAMNQ) VOMF/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/A) VOMF PART 1 OF 2 B) 2511021130 C) 2511201530D) 1130-1530E) LVM3-M5 ROCKET LAUNCH FM SHAR RANGE, SRIHARIKOTA WILL TAKEPLACE AS PER FLW DETAILS.THE LAUNCH WILL BE ON ANY ONE OFTHE DAY DRG THIS PERIOD.ACTUAL DATE OF LAUNCH WILL BEINTIMATED 24 HR IN ADVANCE THRU A SEPARATE NOTAM.LAUNCH PAD COORD: 134312N 0801348ENO FLT IS PERMITTED OVER THE DNG ZONES.[...]
AST did say on 9/30 that FM2/BB7 would ship to Cape Canaveral Launch Site in October. If they stick with that guidance as SpaceX receives payloads ~30-22 days before launch would out this launch 1st week of December followed by the ISRO FM1/BB6 in 2-3rd week of December.
But October is almost over and ASTS has not announced any news about the upcoming shipment of FM2. In fact, ASTS has not released any news about the arrival of FM1 in India, although we have confirmed this fact.
In addition, does ASTS plan to use airplanes to deliver satellites to Florida or by road?
BlueBird 7 expected to ship to Cape Canaveral in November with orbital launch anticipated shortly thereafter.
