AST SpaceMobile hit by Blue Origin failure, SpaceX IPO chatter

AST SpaceMobile posted a bigger first-quarter loss than expected, with revenue also missing Wall Street forecasts late Monday. The company held onto its 2026 revenue guidance and said the upcoming launch of its next three BlueBird satellites aboard a Falcon 9 is still set for mid-June. It’s working to transition its space-based cellular network from pilot projects and initial contracts into ongoing commercial service.

AST SpaceMobile will report first-quarter results Monday, coming off a new U.S. license for its planned 248-satellite direct-to-phone network—alongside the shadow of a recent launch failure that’s likely to draw tough questions. Investors are zeroed in on whether AST can stick to its 2026 rollout timeline. The earnings call is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, right after the bell.

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.

AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite wound up in an off-nominal orbit—basically, not where it was supposed to be—after Sunday’s launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn, a setback just as the Texas firm gears up for its 2026 network. Despite the unexpected trajectory, Blue Origin reported that AST confirmed the satellite’s power was on, and New Glenn’s first-stage booster, reused from an earlier flight, touched down at Cape Canaveral as planned.