New York, Feb 9, 2026, 14:13 EST — Regular session
- AST SpaceMobile shares slipped 0.5% in the afternoon, following a volatile session.
- Broader U.S. equities caught a bid, but the satellite-to-phone player traced its own path.
- Traders are eyeing the next launch update, scouring for new clues about the 2026 commercial rollout.
AST SpaceMobile slipped 0.5% to $101.28 at 2:13 p.m. EST, bouncing between $108.25 and $98.95 in a session that delivered even more turbulence than usual for the stock. The Nasdaq 100 ETF and S&P 500 ETF, on the other hand, climbed higher.
The stakes are high for AST SpaceMobile, with a key test coming up: its BlueBird 7 mission is on the calendar for late February. The goal? Build a “direct-to-device” network that lets ordinary phones ping satellites, no extra hardware needed. “This launch advances our mission to bring space-based cellular broadband connectivity to everyday smartphones,” President Scott Wisniewski said in a January statement. Business Wire
Blue Origin, tapped to handle the launch, cautioned investors that the timeline isn’t set in stone. The firm listed a “no earlier than late February” window for New Glenn-3’s departure from Cape Canaveral. “We’re proud to have AST SpaceMobile as our customer on NG-3,” Chief Executive Dave Limp said. Blue Origin
AST SpaceMobile is going after the cellular broadband market by working with mobile network operators instead of selling subscriptions on its own, the company said in its prospectus. According to the filing, AST already has a deal with AT&T Services in the U.S., plus a commercial agreement lined up with Verizon starting in 2026. But the company still needs more regulatory approvals before it can launch full commercial service. The prospectus also notes that AST will require a hefty injection of capital to get its satellites designed, built, launched and operating as a constellation.
Satellite comms stocks had a mixed Monday, with Globalstar climbing roughly 2.1%, while Iridium jumped 3.2%. Traders haven’t let go of the theme, even if momentum diverges name to name.
AST faces a stretch where it all comes down to the granular stuff: think launch timing, technical sign-offs, and the pace at which both a fresh rocket and satellite can shift from splashy news to routine deployment. Monday’s wide intraday swing captured just how abruptly the mood can shift on that front.
The timeline remains up in the air. Launch plans tend to shift; delays, or a fresh fundraising push, could weigh on a stock that’s already reflecting plenty of optimism. Complicating things, the direct-to-phone satellite race is heating up fast.
There’s nothing on the calendar for AST, according to its investor relations page, so for now, the market is left watching for fresh company news or sector buzz to steer the story.
Mobile World Congress lands in Barcelona March 2–5, circled on most telecom and connectivity calendars. It’s the stretch when companies typically outline the year ahead, and investors scan for any hints—new partners, rollout schedules, regulatory moves.
