SpaceX launches three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird Block‑2 satellites

SpaceX lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral on 17 June 2026, deploying three BlueBird Block‑2 satellites—BlueBird 8, 9 and 10—into low‑Earth orbit on a Falcon 9. The first‑stage booster (serial B1077) successfully returned to the drone ship “A Shortfall Of Gravitas”.

The launch restores AST SpaceMobile’s planned constellation after the loss of BlueBird 7 on a Blue Origin flight. The Block‑2 satellites are larger, featuring deployable antenna panels of about 223 m², and are designed to deliver direct‑to‑smartphone broadband service with speeds up to roughly 120 Mbps, targeting coverage in remote or disaster‑impacted regions. The FCC has recently approved AST SpaceMobile’s direct‑to‑device service in the United States, and the company counts major carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, FirstNet and Vodafone among its partners. This mission advances the transition of the BlueBird network from a demonstration phase to operational service.

“BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 are now secured inside Falcon 9’s fairing” – a statement from AST SpaceMobile highlighted the significance of the launch for scaling the satellite fleet toward a potential 248‑satellite constellation.