AST SpaceMobile, a company developing a space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, has announced the orbital launch of its BlueBird satellites 11, 12, and 13.
The mission has 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 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 has continued to execute its constellation deployment program as planned.
BlueBird satellites 11, 12, and 13 were communications arrays 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 had enabled greater targeted coverage, reduced interference, and increased capacity, supporting cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard, unmodified smartphones. These next-generation satellites were 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 has advanced the company’s goal of delivering 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 had grown, the company had progressed 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 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 have been assembled, integrated, and tested at AST SpaceMobile’s facilities in Midland, Texas, and at the company’s U.S.-based manufacturing facilities. AST SpaceMobile had operated 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.
