New York, Jan 22, 2026, 07:21 ET — Premarket
- AST SpaceMobile shares climbed roughly 3% in premarket action following a sharp sell-off the day before
- The company scheduled the BlueBird 7 satellite launch for late February, targeting Blue Origin’s New Glenn-3 rocket.
- Investors are focused on the pace of launches and the latest competitive news in satellite communications
AST SpaceMobile shares climbed 3.1% to $106.75 in premarket trading Thursday, following news that the satellite-to-phone company scheduled its BlueBird 7 mission for launch in late February. The stock had slipped 7.95% to close at $103.50 on Wednesday.
The timing is crucial since the stock’s movement hinges on execution. Investors are focused on whether AST can launch satellites quickly enough to make its “direct-to-device” concept—phones linking directly to satellites without extra hardware—a reliable service.
Competition news has weighed on sentiment. Blue Origin unveiled plans this week for its own satellite system, TeraWave, underscoring that major players are eyeing the market where SpaceX’s Starlink remains the leader.
Blue Origin announced its upcoming New Glenn flight, NG-3, will deliver AST SpaceMobile’s advanced Block 2 BlueBird satellite into low Earth orbit. The launch is set for “no earlier than late February” from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. “We’re proud to have AST SpaceMobile as our customer on NG-3,” Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp stated. Blue Origin
AST plans to launch BlueBird 7 in late February aboard the New Glenn-3 mission, taking off from Cape Canaveral. The company calls BlueBird 7 the second satellite in its Block 2 rollout, featuring a communications array covering nearly 2,400 square feet and capable of peak data speeds up to 120 Mbps. AST is gearing up for multiple launches and aims to deploy 45–60 satellites by the end of 2026. “This launch advances our mission to bring space-based cellular broadband connectivity to everyday smartphones,” said AST president Scott Wisniewski. Business Wire
Blue Origin unveiled its TeraWave project on Wednesday, aiming at enterprise, data center, and government clients with a network of 5,408 optically linked satellites spanning low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit. The company plans to start deployment in Q4 2027.
Deutsche Bank boosted its price target on AST SpaceMobile to $137 from $81, maintaining its buy rating, according to a TradingView summary of the note.
But the calendar remains a wildcard. Launch windows shift, rockets get delayed, and AST’s timeline hinges on satellite readiness plus the launch providers’ capacity to maintain their flight schedules; any hiccup can disrupt coverage targets and send shares swinging.
The NG-3 launch is now set for no earlier than late February, marking investors’ next major milestone. The following earnings report is penciled in for about March 2, according to third-party schedules.
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