AST SpaceMobile shares moved higher Thursday morning following the company’s announcement of a specific launch date for its next-generation satellite. The stock gained 6% after the news broke.
AST SpaceMobile, Inc., ASTS
The company will launch BlueBird 6 on December 15 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India. This satellite represents a major step up from previous models.
BlueBird 6 features the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in low Earth orbit. The phased array spans nearly 2,400 square feet.
That makes it 3.5 times larger than earlier BlueBird satellites. The new satellite also packs 10 times the data capacity of its predecessors.
The satellite was built at AST SpaceMobile’s headquarters in Midland, Texas. The company has been ramping up production at the facility.
CEO Abel Avellan said the next-generation satellites will enable cellular broadband coverage direct to everyday smartphones from space. The technology aims to reach areas where traditional cell towers don’t exist.
AST SpaceMobile is moving fast on production. The company plans to complete 40 satellites equivalent of microns by early 2026.
Five orbital launches are expected by the end of Q1 2026. After that, launches will occur every one to two months on average.
The goal is to have between 45 and 60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026. That would provide continuous coverage across the United States and select markets.
The company operates nearly 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and operations facilities worldwide. About 400,000 square feet of that space is in the United States.
AST SpaceMobile employs close to 1,800 people globally. Most of the workforce is based in the U.S.
The company is still in early commercialization stages. Third quarter 2025 revenue hit $14.7 million.
That figure was driven primarily by reaching U.S. government milestones. It represents more than triple what the company made in all of 2024.
AST SpaceMobile has secured over $1 billion in revenue commitments. Partners include Verizon, Vodafone, and Saudi Arabia’s stc Group.
The company has launched its first five BlueBird satellites already. BlueBird 6 will be the first of the next generation.
Fourth quarter revenue guidance calls for about $50 million. The company projected $50 million to $75 million for the second half of 2025.
The stock carries a market cap around $14 billion after recent pullbacks. That’s a steep valuation for a company just beginning to generate material revenue.
AST SpaceMobile competes in the satellite broadband space alongside Elon Musk’s Starlink. The sector targets customers in areas lacking traditional telecom infrastructure.
The company noted that exact launch timing could change. Weather conditions, launch readiness, and other factors outside its control may affect the schedule.
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