New York, Jan 22, 2026, 12:37 (EST) — Regular session
- Shares of AST SpaceMobile jumped almost 8% in midday trading following news of a late-February launch window for BlueBird 7.
- The satellite is set to launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn-3 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- Traders are focused on whether the company can maintain a 2026 launch schedule as it moves closer to commercial service.
AST SpaceMobile shares jumped Thursday as the company announced the launch schedule for its next BlueBird satellite, providing investors with a clearer timeline for expanding its space-based cellular network. The stock rose 7.8%, closing at $111.59, after fluctuating between $106.07 and $112.12.
The update is crucial since AST is now at a stage where execution shapes the narrative. Key factors like launch dates, factory production, and the difference between “planned” and “in orbit” heavily influence the stock—sometimes with sharp moves—and they establish timelines for when service will actually begin.
“Direct-to-device” means a regular phone links straight to a satellite, no extra gear needed. But pulling it off is a tough engineering and logistics challenge. Any hiccup with the rocket or satellite can delay revenue, even as costs keep piling up.
AST confirmed BlueBird 7 is set for a late February flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn-3 rocket, launching from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The company aims to conduct an orbital launch roughly every one to two months throughout 2026, targeting a total of 45–60 satellites in orbit by year-end, though it cautioned that schedules might shift. “This launch advances our mission to bring space-based cellular broadband connectivity to everyday smartphones as we progress towards launching commercial services in 2026,” said president Scott Wisniewski. 1
Blue Origin, advancing its New Glenn rocket lineup, announced that New Glenn-3 is set to launch no earlier than late February. The mission will deploy AST’s next-gen Block 2 BlueBird satellite. “We’re proud to have AST SpaceMobile as our customer on NG-3,” said Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp. 2
AST is marketing its next-gen BlueBird satellites as bigger, more powerful craft aimed at delivering broadband-style data links from low Earth orbit. According to the company’s website, these satellites feature arrays close to 2,400 square feet and can handle peak speeds reaching 120 Mbps per coverage cell. 3
The competitive landscape is packed. SpaceX’s Starlink and other satellite providers are aggressively rolling out “direct-to-cell” services. Telecom partners, meanwhile, are demanding coverage that plugs dead zones without killing phone batteries or requiring new handsets.
The risk is clear: launch schedules slip. Rockets get pushed back, payload integration drags on, and weather can shut down a launch window. For AST, any delay would cast doubt on whether it can keep up with the pace its 2026 rollout targets demand.
The next key trigger for investors is the New Glenn-3 launch window. Watch closely for any shifts—whether the date moves up or slips—as late February draws near.
