AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) is pushing aggressively to expand its constellation of BlueBird satellites, with several already operating in orbit after a recent launch.
The company successfully launched BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 in June 2026, marking a meaningful step forward in its broader ambition to deliver space-based cellular broadband globally.
AST SpaceMobile is now targeting the launch of BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13 in the first half of August 2026, keeping momentum alive heading into the second half of the year.
During the company’s first-quarter 2026 earnings call, management confirmed that BlueBird satellites 11 through 33 were already in an advanced state of assembly, signaling a robust production pipeline.
Key antenna parts have been completed through BlueBird 28, and the company says it is targeting six fully assembled satellites per month as it scales manufacturing capacity.
Despite the production progress, AST SpaceMobile faces a significant commercial setback after a Blue Origin launch failure forced the company to push its full U.S. service rollout to 2027.
That delay hands a competitive advantage to SpaceX, which is actively developing its own direct-to-device service through Starlink and has been moving quickly to capture market share in the satellite connectivity space.
Every month AST SpaceMobile’s commercial launch is delayed gives SpaceX additional runway to build partnerships with wireless carriers and lock in customers before AST can offer a competing service.
Still, investors appeared to shake off near-term concerns, as ASTS shares surged 31.2% across the July 4th trading week in a dramatic show of market confidence.
That kind of price movement reflects both the speculative nature of the stock and the genuine excitement surrounding the broader direct-to-device satellite industry as it moves closer to mainstream adoption.
AST SpaceMobile occupies a unique position in the market, having secured partnerships with major global telecommunications carriers that could give it immediate distribution once its constellation reaches commercial readiness.
The window to establish dominance in satellite-to-smartphone connectivity is narrowing, and how quickly AST SpaceMobile can close the gap between satellite production and full commercial service will likely define its long-term trajectory.
