AST SpaceMobile Announces Successful Orbital Launch of BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13

Key Terms

low earth orbit technical

Low Earth orbit (LEO) is the region of space close to Earth, roughly from about 160 to 2,000 kilometers above the surface, where satellites and spacecraft circle the planet quickly—think of it as a busy highway just overhead. It matters to investors because many communications, imaging and data services rely on satellites in LEO; their shorter lifespans, lower launch costs, crowded lanes and debris risks directly affect the cost, revenue potential and operational risks of companies that build, launch or use these satellites.

beamforming technical

Beamforming is a technology that steers wireless signals in a focused direction so devices receive stronger, clearer connections instead of spreading radio waves everywhere. Think of it like aiming a flashlight beam at a specific person rather than lighting an entire room: it boosts speed, range, and reliability while reducing interference. For investors, beamforming matters because it can improve product performance, enable new services, lower network costs, and create competitive advantages for companies selling chips, equipment, or connectivity services.

phased arrays technical

Phased arrays are groups of many small antennas or sensors that work together to send or receive signals and can steer the direction of those signals electronically rather than by moving parts — like changing the aim of a spotlight by adjusting many tiny lamps at once. Investors care because this capability can make products faster, smaller and more reliable, creating demand across telecoms, defense, automotive and imaging markets and affecting manufacturing cost, product differentiation and revenue potential.

direct-to-device technical

Direct-to-device describes delivering software, updates, data or content straight to a user’s hardware—such as smartphones, home gadgets, or medical devices—without going through an intermediary like a clinic, retail store, or app store gatekeeper. For investors it signals a company can reach customers faster, control the user experience, and create ongoing revenue streams, but it also brings responsibilities for cybersecurity, device compatibility and regulatory compliance, which affect cost and risk.

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Next-generation satellites expand AST SpaceMobile’s space-based cellular broadband network for commercial and government applications

BlueBird satellites are the largest communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit, expected to support peak data rates approaching 200 Mbps directly to everyday smartphones

BlueBirds 14, 15, and 16 are preparing for the next mission, with production advancing through BlueBird satellite 42

MIDLAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobile") (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, today announced the successful orbital launch of its BlueBird satellites 11, 12, and 13.

The mission lifted off at 3:42 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, expanding AST SpaceMobile’s growing constellation of next-generation BlueBird satellites following the successful launch and deployment of BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10. With BlueBirds 14, 15, and 16 preparing for the next mission and production advancing through BlueBird satellite 42, the company continues to execute its constellation deployment program at scale.

BlueBird satellites 11, 12, and 13 are the largest communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit, more than three times the size of the company’s five initial Block 1 BlueBird satellites. The large apertures and advanced beamforming capabilities enable greater targeted coverage, reduced interference, and increased capacity, supporting reliable cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard, unmodified smartphones. These next-generation satellites are expected to deliver peak data rates approaching 200 Mbps, nearly double the 98.9 Mbps achieved by the company's five initial Block 1 BlueBird satellites, supporting voice, broadband data, and video applications from space.

“The successful launch of BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13 demonstrates the progress of a space-based cellular broadband network built for scale,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “We are repeatedly building and deploying the largest phased arrays in low Earth orbit. Our unique technology is designed to provide broadband for direct-to-device but is increasingly serving as a platform for additional capabilities. We remain focused on scaling our cellular broadband network as we prepare for beta services later this year.”

Each launch advances the company’s goal of delivering seamless, space-based cellular broadband integrated with terrestrial mobile networks, leveraging a flexible spectrum strategy across both partner and AST SpaceMobile spectrum, together with standard 4G and 5G devices.

As the constellation grows, the company progresses toward initial service activation and continuous coverage across key markets including the United States, Canada, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, as well as the U.S. Government and other strategic markets.

AST SpaceMobile has agreements with nearly 60 mobile network operators globally representing more than 3 billion subscribers combined, together with strategic partnerships with AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Rakuten, Google, Bell, Telus, stc Group, and American Tower.

BlueBird satellites are assembled, integrated, and tested at AST SpaceMobile’s facilities in Midland Texas, reflecting the company’s commitment to U.S.-based innovation and manufacturing. AST SpaceMobile now operates over 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and operations facilities worldwide, supported by a 2,250+ workforce, and a technology platform backed by over 3,900 patents and patent-pending claims.

About AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio, and designed for both commercial and government applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to enable 4G and 5G space-based cellular broadband to every device, everywhere, for today’s nearly 6 billion mobile subscribers globally. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on YouTube, X (Formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook. Watch this video for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of AST SpaceMobile to differ materially from those expected and projected. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential,” “projects,” “predicts,” “continue,” or “should,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside AST SpaceMobile’s control and are difficult to predict.

Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) expectations regarding AST SpaceMobile’s strategies and future financial performance, including AST’s future business plans or objectives, expected functionality of the SpaceMobile Service, anticipated timing of the launch of the Block 2 BlueBird satellites, anticipated demand and acceptance of mobile satellite services, prospective performance and commercial opportunities and competitors, the timing of obtaining regulatory approvals, ability to finance its research and development activities, commercial partnership acquisition and retention, products and services, pricing, marketing plans, operating expenses, market trends, revenues, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and AST SpaceMobile’s ability to invest in growth initiatives; (ii) the negotiation of definitive agreements with mobile network operators relating to the SpaceMobile Service that would supersede preliminary agreements and memoranda of understanding and the ability to enter into commercial agreements with other parties or government entities; (iii) the ability of AST SpaceMobile to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees and AST SpaceMobile’s responses to actions of its competitors and its ability to effectively compete; (iv) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (v) the possibility that AST SpaceMobile may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (vi) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against AST SpaceMobile; and (vii) other risks and uncertainties indicated in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including those in the Risk Factors section of AST SpaceMobile’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2026, its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026 filed with the SEC on May 11, 2026 and the future reports that it may file from time to time with the SEC.

AST SpaceMobile cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. AST SpaceMobile cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors in AST SpaceMobile’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2026, its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026 filed with the SEC on May 11, 2026 and the future reports that it may file from time to time with the SEC. AST SpaceMobile’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, AST SpaceMobile disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260805761351/en/

Investor Contact:

Scott Wisniewski
investors@ast-science.com

Media Contact:

Allison Worldwide
AstSpaceMobile@allisonpr.com

Source: AST SpaceMobile, Inc.