AST SpaceMobile, the company working on the first space-based cellular network for smartphones, revealed that it has successfully launched its BlueBird 6 satellite into orbit. The milestone strengthens the company’s mission. It aims to offer smooth cellular connections from space. This service is for both commercial and government use.
The BlueBird 6 mission launched at 10:25 p.m. EST on December 23. It took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. BlueBird 6 is now the largest commercial communications array in low Earth orbit after deployment. It covers almost 2,400 square feet. The satellite is three times larger than AST SpaceMobile’s earlier BlueBird 1–5 spacecraft and is purpose-built to support high-performance commercial and government applications. These include high-speed 4G and 5G space-based cellular broadband delivered directly to standard, unmodified smartphones, as well as government missions that leverage the scale, power, and patented technology of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird platform.
“BlueBird 6 is a breakthrough moment for AST SpaceMobile,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “This launch validates years of U.S. innovation and American manufacturing, executed by our team and marks the transition to scaled deployment. With BlueBird 6 now in orbit, we are firmly on the path to delivering true space-based cellular broadband directly to everyday smartphones, at a global scale.”
Also Read: Vector and RTI Partner on DDS Application Development
The successful deployment of BlueBird 6 marks the beginning of AST SpaceMobile’s next phase of execution. The company remains on schedule to launch between 45 and 60 satellites by the end of 2026, with planned launch cadence averaging one mission every one to two months to support network expansion.
BlueBird 6 was assembled, integrated, and tested at AST SpaceMobile’s advanced manufacturing facilities in Midland, Texas. The company runs about 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and operational space worldwide. It has a workforce of over 1,800 employees. AST SpaceMobile’s tech platform is backed by a strong intellectual property portfolio. It has over 3,800 patents and pending claims. This highlights its leadership in space-based cellular broadband innovation.