Tag: AST SpaceMobile
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Blue Origin Targets Late February New Glenn Launch With AST SpaceMobile Payload
Blue Origin is aiming for a late February launch of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket, carrying a commercial satellite for AST SpaceMobile into low-Earth orbit, the company said, marking the third flight of the vehicle after more than a decade in development. The mission will be the second time Blue Origin, founded by Amazon founder…
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Elon Musk tries to make Apple and mobile carriers regret choosing Starlink rivals
SpaceX’s $17 billion deal to buy spectrum licenses from EchoStar should help Starlink satellites deliver better service to smartphones, and it might give a few large corporations second thoughts about their current partnerships with Starlink competitors. The spectrum, combined with a SpaceX plan to launch up to 15,000 new and improved satellites for cellular service,…
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AST SpaceMobile secures multi-launch agreements with Blue Origin, ISRO and SpaceX
An artist’s rendering of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites in low Earth orbit. Graphic: AST SpaceMobile A company aiming to bring cell service to unmodified smartphones using a satellite network announced Thursday it had secured its ability to reach low Earth orbit. During a third quarter earnings call, AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) revealed new launch agreements…
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AST SpaceMobile chooses Blue Origin’s New Glenn rockets for satellite launches
An artist’s conception shows AST SpaceMobile’s Bluebird satellites in orbit. (AST SpaceMobile Illustration) AST SpaceMobile plans to use Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket to launch some of the satellites for its space-based cellular broadband network in 2025 and 2026. New Glenn has been under development at Jeff Bezos’ privately held space venture for more than…
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SpaceX launches five BlueBird satellites on Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral
Update: The Falcon 9 lifted off on time and successfully deployed the five BlueBird satellites. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the first five of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to launch five of AST SpaceMobile’s…
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Seraphim Space Investment Trust Reports Resilient Growth Despite Astroscale IPO Setback
Seraphim Space Investment Trust (SSIT) announced a 1.4% increase in the total value of early-stage space investments in its publicly traded trust, reaching 201 million pounds ($257 million). This growth occurred despite a setback from Astroscale’s discounted initial public offering (IPO). Astroscale, a Japanese debris removal venture, went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on…
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Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile Plan Satellite-to-Mobile Service in Japan by 2026
Rakuten Mobile, in collaboration with U.S. satellite designer AST SpaceMobile, has unveiled its ambitious plan to introduce a commercial satellite-to-mobile service in Japan by 2026. This innovative broadband service will enable video and voice calls directly accessible by regular smartphones, eliminating the need for a terminal connection. The rollout timeline remains uncertain, but the coverage…
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AST SpaceMobile Expands Satellite Coverage through Altered SpaceX Launch Plan
Texas-based satellite operator AST SpaceMobile has opted for a modified launch plan with SpaceX, investing an additional $5 million to deploy its first commercial direct-to-smartphone satellites early next year. The change involves adjusting the orbital inclination to 53 degrees, exceeding the initial plan. This alteration aims to enhance coverage, reaching up to 59 degrees latitude…
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FCC plans to set up a new framework for connecting satellites with smartphones
Lynk Global has demonstrated its satellite-to-smartphone network in Mongolia. (Lynk Global Illustration) The Federal Communications Commission plans to set up a new regulatory framework to facilitate hookups between satellite operators and wireless companies, with the objective of connecting smartphone users in remote or underserved areas of the world. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, adopted today,…
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SpaceX launches Starlink 4-2 mission with BlueWalker 3 rideshare
SpaceX launched the Starlink 4-2 rideshare mission on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at 9:20 PM EDT (01:20 UTC on September 11) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Onboard Falcon 9 were 34 SpaceX Starlink satellites and the BlueWalker 3 prototype satellite for AST SpaceMobile’s cellular broadband constellation. The…