AST SpaceMobile launches three Block 2 BlueBird satellites via SpaceX

SpaceX lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 on a Falcon 9 early Monday, delivering three Block 2 BlueBird satellites (BlueBird 8, 9 and 10) for AST SpaceMobile. The launch marks the third SpaceX‑AST mission and introduces a next‑generation payload that is larger—about 2,400 sq ft—and designed to double the peak data speeds of earlier BlueBird satellites, bringing direct‑to‑cell broadband service to standard 4G/5G smartphones.

AST SpaceMobile highlighted the milestone, with CEO Abel Avella stating, “This first stacked launch is just the beginning.” The company notes that partners Bell and Telus in Canada are set to benefit from the expanded satellite‑to‑mobile coverage, while rival Rogers relies on SpaceX’s Starlink for similar services. The deployment advances the race to provide commercial mobile connectivity from low‑Earth‑orbit constellations.

The mission also reflects the broader competition between AST’s constellation and SpaceX’s own direct‑to‑cell efforts, underscoring the growing strategic importance of satellite‑based broadband.