Successful launchโฆ again!๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐
Our DC team in full comms with BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13 within minutes, and just confirmed full Nominal Operations.
BlueBirds 14, 15, and 16 to follow soon after, with production underway in Texas through spacecraft 42.
We now have ~20,000 sq ft of combined aperture hardware in Space! Bigger is better and we have the biggest!!!
Beta service around the corner! ๐ค ๐บ๐ธ๐๐ถ๐ฑ
BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 are now fully deployed to their full size, each the world's largest communications arrays operating in Low Earth Orbit.
We invented a new way to design, manufacture at scale, deploy, and fly lightweight composite stackable architecture combined, with the world's largest and most advanced direct- to-device and radar phased-array with the ability to launch them in groups of 3, 5, 6, or 8 on a single launch.
Our BlueBird platform brings together high-performance space-based cellular broadband with peak data rates approaching 200 Mbps, space AI edge computing, and many mission-critical government applications, all on one platform where the largest-ever size matters!
BlueBirds 11, 12 and 13 are already at the Cape preparing for their imminent launch. BlueBirds 14, 15 and 16 are right behind them. Production has already moved through satellite 42.
All of this is happening in Texas. ๐ค ๐บ๐ธ๐ถ๐๐ฑ
$ASTS: This indicates that at least the next 3x launches will be with SpaceX Falcon-9 for a total of 9x Block-2 Bluebirds (8 through 16). By the time these are done, Blue Origin New Glenn should be ready to launch commercial cargo, of course after completing a successful launch of Amazon Leo satellites. If not, there are more Falcon-9 launches planned.
One interesting thing to note is that I believe (per AI analysis) that Blue Origin New Glenn certification process for Space Force resets back to zero with the latest mishap. So they'll need to do 4x successful commercial launches in a row before doing any Space Force missions. This opens up the launch manifest for more commercial cargo in the near term.
Great find by @hb_lon
SATELLITE WILL FILL GAPS IN AT&TโS FIRSTNET EMERGENCY NETWORK
AT&Tโs FirstNet public safety network plans to offer satellite connectivity to first responders in the first half of 2026 to fill gaps in nationwide coverage.
FirstNet President Scott Agnew told Fierce, โYou need a layered approach when deploying a public safety network.โ AT&Tโs mobile network covers nearly 3 million square miles in the U.S. The telco also uses a fleet of deployables such as cell-towers-on-wheels, which can be delivered to areas that have been hit by disasters. โNow, this is that satellite layer that's going to go fill out that white space area for public safety,โ said Agnew.
In fact, in December some public safety organizations connected to the FirstNet network in West Texas on AST SpaceMobileโs BlueBird satellites in orbit.
AT&Tโs commercial mobile network and the FirstNet public-safety network are tightly integrated, and theyโre both working with the satellite operator AST SpaceMobile to provide satellite connectivity to consumers and first responders.
Currently, AST SpaceMobile has deployed six of its super-large satellites into orbit. AST says itโs planning to have 45-60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026, although some analysts question whether thatโs feasible.
In addition to satellites, the partners also need ground gateways. AST SpaceMobile deploys satellite dishes and equipment used to communicate with the satellites, while AT&T provides the transport and other gateway equipment to interface to the mobile network.
Fierce asked Agnew how many AST satellites need to be in orbit to provide FirstNet coverage across the contiguous U.S. โWeโre still working that through,โ said Agnew. โThere's still testing going on. But our expectation is that we are going to provide 100% continental U.S. based coverage, not just text messaging, but voice capabilities, data capabilities, mission critical capabilities.โ
Both AT&T and FirstNet are hedging on the question of when they will deliver satellite service to customers and first responders. Agnew would only say that FirstNet plans to conduct beta tests of satellite service in the first half of this year. And he said FirstNet is being prioritized over commercial customers.
One of the big public safety benefits of FirstNet is that it operates over dedicated spectrum at Band 14. And FirstNet has priority and preemption on all of AT&Tโs spectrum bands. Agnew said that when satellite connectivity is included in FirstNetโs coverage, it will also have priority over commercial traffic.
In related news, FirstNet recently introduced its FirstNet Fusion client, which is a mission critical push-to-talk application that allows multiple first responders to communicate with each other at the same time. It can connection teams across almost any radio system or wireless provider. The Fusion client will be launched in the first half of 2026. And Agnew said, โWe have actually tested the Fusion product over satellite.โ
As of the third quarter 2025, FirstNet serves 7.8 million public safety connections.
Is AST a good bet?
Fierce asked Agnew if AT&T feels a little behind on the satellite front, given that T-Mobile is already providing its mobile customers with emergency satellite texting through its partnership with SpaceX's Starlink.
Agnew said, โI think we're ensuring that we get it right and that we have the latest technology and the best technology that's going to provide the best performance, speeds, battery life and coverage. I think getting this right was the most important thing.โ
$ASTS $T @FirstNet
To put Andres' projection into context starting with his 2030 projections:
Only about 12-15 publicly available companies are consistently achieving greater than $11B in annual FCF.
Half of them have a market cap over $1T, and the smallest sits around $400B. This would put the AST share price around $1000/share.
Even Netflix doesn't currently produce $11B in FCF.
The optionality this provides ASTS in the future is massive - whether through buy backs, dividends, M&A, new business lines, or just a shit ton more satellites - the sky is the literal limit.
$ASTS
VODAFONE PROVIDES LETTER OF CONSENT FOR TESTING IN IRELAND
Vodafone have provided their consent for their spectrum to be used for testing D2D in Ireland.
Hopefully this will see the STA granted very shortly!
$ASTS $VOD
2025 - a year of execution, laying the foundation for scale.
We strengthened global partnerships, expanded U.S. manufacturing, and built a robust spectrum portfolio to support rapid growth ahead. 2026 will bring more BlueBirds to orbit, and the start of space-based cellular broadband services with our mobile network operator partners. ๐
Happyย New Year from the AST SpaceMobile team ๐๐ถ๐ฑ
#ASTSpaceMobile #ConnectingtheUnconnected
2025 - a year of execution, laying the foundation for scale.
We strengthened global partnerships, expanded U.S. manufacturing, and built a robust spectrum portfolio to support rapid growth ahead. 2026 will bring more BlueBirds to orbit, and the start of space-based cellular broadband services with our mobile network operator partners. ๐
Happyย New Year from the AST SpaceMobile team ๐๐ถ๐ฑ
#ASTSpaceMobile #ConnectingtheUnconnected
MY GROWTH PORTFOLIO GOING INTO 2026
1) $ASTS - They're building the future of space communications
2) $ASTS - They'll provide critical services to the government
3) $ASTS - The company will provide a back up PNT service
4) $ASTS - IoT devices will be able to be continously connected
5) $ASTS - They will likely be the largest subscriber business in the world