AST SpaceMobile sets June 17 launch for three BlueBird satellites

AST SpaceMobile announced on June 9 that BlueBird satellites 8, 9, and 10 are scheduled to launch June 17 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, with liftoff targeted for 2:39 a.m. EDT. The next-generation spacecraft are built to beam space-based cellular broadband - voice, data, and video - directly to standard, unmodified smartphones, and the simultaneous three-satellite launch helps the company rebuild momentum after its BlueBird 7 satellite failed to reach its intended orbit and was deorbited in April. AST is racing to grow the in-orbit fleet it needs for continuous U.S. coverage during 2026.