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BlueBird constellationAST SpaceMobile—BlueBird constellationAST SpaceMobile—BlueBird constellationAST SpaceMobile—BlueBird constellationAST SpaceMobile—

AST SpaceMobile

Satellites that talk to normal phones

USpublicest. 2017ast-science.com (opens ast-science.com)Checked 25 Sep

The brief

Analyst view
  • Made the first call from space to a normal phone (2023) with its BlueWalker 3 test satellite.
  • Newer BlueBirds unfold to about 2,400 sq ft, the largest commercial antennas in low orbit.
  • Lost BlueBird 7 to a New Glenn upper-stage anomaly in April 2026, then launched six more on Falcon 9.

Technical approach

As reported
Link budget

A huge antenna instead of a big phone

A phone's tiny antenna can only reach orbit if the satellite's antenna is enormous. BlueBirds unfold a giant flat antenna to aim tight beams.

Spectrum

Carrier signal, normal phones

The satellites use partner carriers' own airwaves and normal 4G/5G, so today's phones work without changes.

Processing

Custom chips aim the beams

Newer satellites use a custom chip to handle many beams at once, for faster speeds than the first batch.

Doppler

Fixing the speed shift

Satellites move at about 7.5 km/s, which shifts the signal; the network corrects this so the phone sees a normal cell.

Programs

AST SpaceMobile, one program

Updated 5 Aug 2026
BlueBird constellationA fleet of big satellites with unfolding antennas that give phones mobile internet straight from space. The newer ones are about 3.5x bigger than the first five.PilotNextAbout 45 satellites in orbit · Dec 2026Updated 5 Aug 2026View program →
Research · Proto · Pilot · Deploy · Scaling

Research & demos

1 item

Open technical problems

Open · Active · Partial
  • Getting big satellites launchedOpen

    Each new BlueBird is big and heavy, so the pace depends on scarce big rockets; losing one on NG-3 shows the risk.

  • Interference and permissionPartially solved

    Beaming phone signal from space can interfere across borders and with radio telescopes; each country must approve.

Peers

Satellites · 1

Company & funding

1 round · as reported
Raised
$207Mdisclosed private rounds
Last round
Strategic investmentJan 2024
HQ
US
Founded
2017
DateRoundAmountPost-moneyLead
Jan 2024Strategic investment$207M—AT&T, Google, Vodafone

Partners & customers

3 partners · 2 suppliers

People

Key people
  • Abel AvellanFounder, Chairman and CEO
Primer