AST SpaceMobile Still on Track for 45 Satellites This Year, Company Says
An unsuccessful launch in April lost a satellite and will leave New Glenn rockets grounded until an investigation finishes.
An unsuccessful launch in April lost a satellite and will leave New Glenn rockets grounded until an investigation finishes.
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2026 – AST SpaceMobile is on track to meet its goal of approximately 45 satellites in orbit by the end of the year, executives said on the company’s earnings call Monday.
“We do have contracted launch capacity to meet our target for 2026,” said AST President Scott Wisniewski. “The way to think about it is basically a handful of Blue Origin launches and a handful of SpaceX or equivalent launches. And that’s what gets us to the approximately 45.”
The company has six of its massive Bluebird satellites in orbit and is planning a mid-June launch with SpaceX that would add three more. In late April, AST suffered a setback when a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket failed to deposit one of its satellites in the correct orbit, leading to the unit being scrapped.
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