AST SpaceMobile Sets Launch Date for Largest Ever LEO Commercial Phased Array

AST SpaceMobile has confirmed a December 15 launch date for BlueBird 6, the company’s first next-generation satellite and the largest commercial communications phased array ever deployed in low Earth orbit. Launch will take place from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Center.

BlueBird 6, built in Midland, Texas, will feature a ~2,400 ft² deployable array, more than 3.5× larger than earlier BlueBird satellites, enabling 10× greater data capacity. The platform is central to AST SpaceMobile’s plan to deliver ubiquitous, 4G/5G broadband directly to unmodified smartphones, supporting both commercial and government users.

The mission marks the start of AST’s accelerated orbital deployment campaign which will see the company conduct five launches by the end of Q1 2026, and a cadence of one launch every 1–2 months toward deploying 45–60 satellites by end-2026, enough for continuous service across the U.S. and select markets.

AST SpaceMobile is scaling satellite production with 40 BlueBird-equivalent spacecraft in progress and nearly 500,000 sq ft of global manufacturing and operations facilities, including 400,000 sq ft in the U.S. The company now employs roughly 1,800 staff, the vast majority American.

A live broadcast of the launch will stream on AST SpaceMobile’s YouTube channel.

SOURCE: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251121182027/en/AST-SpaceMobile-Announces-BlueBird-6-Launch-Date-the-Largest-Commercial-Communications-Array-Ever-Deployed-in-Low-Earth-Orbit