SpaceX Launches Three Massive Direct-to-Cell Satellites for AST SpaceMobile

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying three large BlueWalker satellites built by AST SpaceMobile. The satellites are designed to enable direct-to-cell connectivity with unmodified smartphones.

Expansion of the BlueWalker constellation

This mission advances AST SpaceMobile’s low-Earth orbit satellite network, which aims to deliver broadband internet directly to standard mobile phones once fully operational. According to Space.com, the launch contributes to scaling that constellation.

With this deployment, the total number of BlueWalker satellites successfully placed in orbit reaches 13. AST SpaceMobile described the milestone as significant progress toward full constellation activation.

Operational timeline and testing plans

Scott Wisniewski, CEO of AST SpaceMobile, stated in a press release: “This orbital launch, combined with our expanded manufacturing capacity and the successful recent deployment of BlueWalker satellites 8, 9, and 10, positions us to begin offering trial services later this year with coverage from space-based cellular broadband.”

Prior to today’s launch, four next-generation BlueWalker satellites—numbers 6, 8, 9, and 10—were already operating in low-Earth orbit. BlueWalker 7 was lost shortly after its April launch due to a failure involving Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. As a result, the number of AST SpaceMobile satellites in space increased from 11 to 13.

Falcon 9 first-stage recovery

The Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, landing as planned on SpaceX’s drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean.