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AST SpaceMobile Plans 45–60 Satellites by 2026 With Monthly Launch Cadence

A six-week launch cadence taps a $1.5 billion balance, raising fresh regulatory, scientific scrutiny of orbital sustainability

Illustration of AST SpaceMobile BlueBird cell service satellites.

Overview

  • AST SpaceMobile announced a fully funded push to orbit 45 to 60 direct-to-phone satellites by 2026 with launches scheduled every one to two months
  • The company’s Q2 earnings revealed a $1.5 billion cash reserve earmarked for satellite deployment and constellation build-out
  • Shares of AST SpaceMobile jumped over 10 percent as telecom partners including AT&T, Verizon and Vodafone secure deals for space-based cellular coverage across key markets
  • SpaceX lodged formal objections with the FCC over orbital sustainability and astronomers warn the growing mega-constellation could worsen debris risks and sky interference
  • AST is bolstering spectrum holdings with new S-Band and L-Band rights and aims to launch intermittent U.S. service by end-2025, expanding to the U.K., Japan and Canada in early 2026