MIDLAND, Texas, May 8, 2026, 15:55 CDT
AST SpaceMobile is moving its next launch over to SpaceX, targeting mid-June for three BlueBird satellites. The switch comes quickly after BlueBird 7 was lost in Blue Origin’s New Glenn failure, tightening the screws on the Texas firm’s timeline for 2026. SatNews flagged the change Thursday, while PCMag framed it as AST’s bid to keep its satellite-to-phone system from slipping further after last month’s failed deployment.
Timing is crucial here. AST wants to shift out of the test phase and big investor talk, pushing ahead with an operational space-based cellular broadband network—satellites linking straight to standard 4G and 5G phones, no special satellite devices needed. According to Converge Digest, AST’s latest update puts three Block 2 BlueBird satellites on a Falcon 9, aiming for a cadence of around one launch every month or two.
Investors are tracking the pace of developments almost as intently as the launches themselves. AST shares jumped around 14.8% to $75.05, which puts the firm’s market cap near $20.5 billion. Bloomberg, citing Friday’s report, pointed to an online retail surge behind a 6,000% run-up in the stock—catapulting AST into the ranks of top-watched space players.
BlueBird 7’s failure remains the top concern hanging over the stock. According to Reuters, Blue Origin’s New Glenn booster landed after its April 19 launch—however, the booster didn’t manage to deliver AST’s satellite to its intended orbit. AST reported that the spacecraft powered up, but its orbit was too low for sustained operation and it will need to be de-orbited.
AST, aiming to play down the impact of the setback, insisted that production remains on track. Following the failed mission, the company said it’s still producing satellites at BlueBird 32. BlueBirds 8 through 10 should be ready to ship in roughly 30 days, according to AST, which is sticking to its goal of about 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.
Key to that strategy: the company’s larger satellites. According to AST, its next-gen BlueBirds will beam high-speed cellular broadband straight to standard smartphones, equipped with phased-array antennas covering almost 2,400 square feet. The AST5000 chip aims for peak speeds of 120 Mbps in each coverage cell.
Regulatory momentum is swinging AST’s way. Last month, the company announced it received FCC approval for as many as 248 low-Earth-orbit satellites—an authorization covering Supplemental Coverage from Space, which refers to satellite-powered mobile network fill-ins, using 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands in partnership with Verizon, AT&T, and FirstNet. CEO Abel Avellan said AST is “accelerating deployment” and edging toward commercial rollout. Business Wire
Carrier partnerships are the linchpin here. AT&T and AST locked in a definitive deal this year, extending out to 2030. Verizon inked its own arrangement, with plans to roll out direct-to-cellular AST service to its subscribers beginning in 2026.
SpaceX has a foot in both camps here. The company is launching AST’s upcoming BlueBird mission, but SpaceX’s own Starlink network is also integral to T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service—T-Mobile pitches that offering as coverage for hard-to-reach areas outside regular cell tower range, though the service comes with restrictions on speed, supported apps, and available coverage.
The reset isn’t without downside. Michael Funk, analyst at BofA, called BlueBird 7’s failure a “negative shock” but said it doesn’t alter AST’s underlying business. Still, the firm flagged ongoing risk around AST’s updated goal—about 45 satellites in orbit before year-end. Any hiccup—whether that’s a Falcon 9 window delay, fresh deployment trouble, or slower satellite deliveries—could undermine that target. Investing.com
AST has its next business update set for May 11, with management slated to go over results and field questions from both retail and institutional shareholders. Now, with the SpaceX strategy shift front and center, investors want numbers: satellite production capacity, launch pace, and, crucially, when the network shifts from headline-grabbing demos to actual service.
