AST SpaceMobile successfully deployed BlueBird 6 into low Earth orbit on Tuesday, marking the first successful launch of its next-generation Block 2 satellites. The spacecraft lifted off at 10:25 p.m. EST (Dec. 23) aboard an ISRO LVM3 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India.
Block 2 Payload Specifications
The BlueBird 6 satellite features a phased array antenna spanning nearly 2,400 square feet, making it the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in low Earth orbit. The spacecraft is approximately 3.5 times larger than the BlueBirds 1-5 satellites launched in September 2024 and offers 10 times the data capacity. Designed to connect directly to standard smartphones without specialized hardware, the system supports peak data rates of up to 120 Mbps for voice, data, and video applications.
Program Context and Manufacturing
This mission validates AST SpaceMobile’s transition to scaled manufacturing at its facilities in Midland, Texas, following announcements that the satellite was ready to ship in October. The Block 2 architecture leverages AST’s portfolio of over 3,800 patents to support agreements with more than 50 mobile network operators globally, including AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone.
“BlueBird 6 is a breakthrough moment for AST SpaceMobile,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “This launch validates years of U.S. innovation and American manufacturing… and marks the transition to scaled deployment.”
Launch Cadence to 2026
The successful deployment initiates an aggressive launch campaign. AST SpaceMobile aims to orbit 45 to 60 satellites by the end of 2026, targeting a launch cadence of one mission every one to two months on average. This constellation is intended to provide continuous space-based cellular broadband coverage across the United States and select global markets.