New York, Jan 22, 2026, 14:46 EST — Regular session
- Shares of AST SpaceMobile jumped almost 14% following the announcement of a late-February launch window for its BlueBird 7 satellite
- BlueBird 7 is set to launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn-3 mission, departing from Cape Canaveral
- Investors are focusing on the launch schedule as AST aims to scale up for commercial service by 2026
Shares of AST SpaceMobile climbed Thursday following the announcement that its BlueBird 7 mission will launch in late February. This will be the company’s first flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
The timing is crucial since AST remains in build-out mode. Traders have focused on launch milestones as a key indicator of whether the company can expand its constellation and push toward commercial service within this year.
AST SpaceMobile jumped roughly 13.9% to $117.89 in afternoon trading, hitting a high of $117.94. It started the day at $109.71.
AST announced that BlueBird 7 is set to launch in late February from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. “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 AST President Scott Wisniewski. The satellite features a communications array covering nearly 2,400 square feet, engineered for peak data speeds up to 120 megabits per second. Business Wire
Blue Origin announced New Glenn-3 is targeting a launch date no earlier than late February. The company is refurbishing the booster from its previous flight for this mission. “Our customers need a reliable, cost-effective launch vehicle, and New Glenn is purpose-built to serve their needs,” CEO Dave Limp said. Blue Origin
AST said New Glenn’s seven-meter fairing could fit up to eight next-generation BlueBird satellites per launch. The company plans a multi-launcher campaign in 2026, aiming for an orbital launch roughly every one to two months.
The company markets the service as “direct-to-device,” allowing a regular smartphone to link directly to a satellite without needing an extra terminal, using 4G and 5G-style connections.
On the regulatory side, AST and other satellite players are closely watching the Federal Communications Commission’s “Space Modernization” rulemaking, targeting a licensing overhaul for satellite and earth stations. SatNews noted that AST submitted comments this week. The Federal Register sets Feb. 18, 2026, as the deadline for reply comments. SatNews
The launch race has intensified scrutiny on AST’s competition with SpaceX’s Starlink. Investors and analysts are zeroing in on whether AST can meet its launch deadlines in the near term.
That said, late February isn’t set in stone. AST flagged that launcher readiness and weather could delay the schedule, which would disrupt the pace investors expect.
Traders now focus on the final “no-earlier-than” launch date for New Glenn-3 as the February window approaches. They’re also watching for updates on AST’s 2026 launch schedule, with FCC reply comments set for Feb. 18 marking the next key policy deadline.
