AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) is set to launch its BlueBird 7 satellite in late February, with preparations underway for liftoff from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The announcement has prompted an increase in trading activity, with shares moving higher in premarket trading on Thursday.
BlueBird 7 is designed as a twin to the recently deployed BlueBird 6, making it the second satellite in the company's next-generation rollout series. The satellite has been engineered to feature the largest commercial communications array deployed in low Earth orbit to date, covering an area of nearly 2,400 square feet. This expansive array eclipses those found on BlueBird models 1 through 5 by approximately 3.5 times, significantly enhancing the satellite's capacity.
Underpinning BlueBird 7’s capabilities is a foundation of robust technical innovation, supported by more than 3,800 existing patents and pending intellectual property claims. This technological backbone enables the satellite to provide peak data speeds of up to 120 megabits per second, accommodating voice, data, and streaming services directly from space-based infrastructure.
The launch of BlueBird 7 will also mark a milestone as the first flight of New Glenn, a heavy-lift launch vehicle equipped with a seven-meter diameter fairing. This fairing is designed to accommodate up to eight Block 2 BlueBird satellites on a single mission, allowing for scalable deployment and cost efficiencies. These next-generation satellites have been built with compatibility for all major launch platforms in mind, underscoring the company's strategy for rapid network expansion.
New Glenn's considerable payload bay presents approximately double the volume of conventional five-meter fairings used in many commercial launches, permitting future missions to transport larger numbers of satellites, thereby accelerating AST’s constellation building efforts.
In looking ahead to 2026, AST SpaceMobile has ambitious plans for a multi-launch campaign, anticipating a cadence of one orbital launch every one to two months. The goal is to deploy between 45 and 60 satellites by the end of the year, significantly enhancing the company’s space-based connectivity network.
Alongside its launch plans, the company recently secured a noteworthy placement on the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program. This multi-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract opens the door to potential future task orders, underpinning an added revenue opportunity outside its commercial satellite business.
AST SpaceMobile’s shares reflected investor confidence early Thursday, rising 6.52 percent to $110.24 in premarket trading, as reported by Benzinga Pro data sources.
While satellite deployment presents opportunities for extending global broadband and voice coverage from space, execution of the planned launches at the established pace, along with further contract awards, will be key to sustaining the company’s growth trajectory and stock momentum.