AST SpaceMobile Sets Late-February BlueBird 7 Launch with 2,400 sq ft Array and 120 Mbps Data Rate
AST SpaceMobile will launch its second next-gen BlueBird 7 satellite in late February from Cape Canaveral’s LC-36 on Blue Origin’s New Glenn. At 2,400 sq ft—3.5× larger than BlueBirds 1–5—and supported by over 3,800 patents, it enables up to 120 Mbps space-based broadband ahead of 2026 service.
1. BlueBird 7 Launch Date and Technical Specifications
AST SpaceMobile has scheduled the BlueBird 7 mission for late February from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 36 aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn. This satellite, identical in design to BlueBird 6, carries a nearly 2,400-square-foot communications array—3.5 times larger than the company’s first five BlueBird satellites. Supported by over 3,800 patent and patent-pending claims, BlueBird 7 is engineered to deliver peak space-based broadband data rates of up to 120 Mbps directly to standard smartphones. This deployment advances AST SpaceMobile’s roadmap toward launching full commercial services in 2026.
2. Vertical Integration and Manufacturing Capacity
AST SpaceMobile operates nearly 500,000 square feet of vertically integrated manufacturing and operations facilities in Texas, under full U.S. control. The company’s end-to-end production approach spans antenna fabrication, payload integration, systems testing and mission operations. With a workforce of approximately 1,800 engineers, technicians and support staff, AST SpaceMobile seeks to sustain high throughput of next-generation BlueBird satellites, leveraging its in-house expertise to manage costs and accelerate deployment schedules.
3. Revenue Trajectory and Commercial Partnerships
Having generated $14.7 million in revenue in the third quarter, AST SpaceMobile projects fourth-quarter revenues between $35 million and $50 million as it begins monetizing its initial LEO connectivity services. The company has secured preliminary agreements with major mobile network operators in North America and Europe, aiming to bundle space-based LTE and 5G coverage into existing consumer and enterprise plans. These partnerships underpin AST SpaceMobile’s forecast of tripling annual revenue in 2026 to nearly $200 million.
4. Strategic Contract with the Missile Defense Agency
AST SpaceMobile recently won a contract under the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD Program, marking its first defense-sector award. Under this agreement, the company will supply space-based command, control and secure communications capabilities to support U.S. missile defense operations. The contract enhances AST SpaceMobile’s foothold in the national security market and complements its commercial rollout, potentially unlocking multi-year follow-on opportunities with government agencies seeking resilient, global connectivity.