AST SpaceMobile Encapsulates BlueBird 8-10 for June 17 Launch, Eyes 45 Satellites
ASTS•AST SpaceMobile encapsulated BlueBird 8-10 satellites in a Falcon 9 fairing for a June 17 launch, marking a milestone toward doubling its direct-to-device network’s peak data speeds. The company stays on track to deploy 45 satellites this year while vying for Japan’s $1 billion J-LEO contract.
1. Launch Milestone for BlueBird 8-10
AST SpaceMobile completed encapsulation of BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 satellites inside a Falcon 9 fairing ahead of the scheduled June 17 liftoff, marking a critical step in its mission to expand its space-based cellular broadband network.
2. Network Expansion and Speed Improvement
The three new satellites feature advanced deployable arrays totaling 2,400 square feet and are designed to nearly double peak data speeds compared with the initial Block 1 BlueBird satellites, which delivered peak downloads of around 99 Mbps directly to unmodified smartphones.
3. Japan J-LEO Competition
AST SpaceMobile is among the leading contenders for Japan’s 150 billion yen direct-to-cell J-LEO project, in partnership with Rakuten Mobile, competing against a KDDI-SpaceX consortium for a contract expected to provide nationwide smartphone connectivity by 2029.
4. 2026 Deployment Outlook
Despite the loss of BlueBird 7 in April, the company remains on track to launch a total of 45 satellites by the end of 2026, reinforcing its long-term growth trajectory and potential valuation uplift.
