AST to De-Orbit Satellite After Failed Launch
The Orlando Sentinel first reported the FAA grounded the Blue Origin rocket used pending an investigation.
WASHINGTON, April 20, 2026 – AST SpaceMobile suffered a setback Sunday after a failed satellite launch.
The company said in a statement that the Blue Origin rocket failed to bring its BlueBird satellite to a high enough orbit, and the unit thus wouldn’t be usable.
“While the satellite separated from the launch vehicle and powered on, the altitude is too low to sustain operations with its on-board thruster technology and will be de-orbited,” the company said. “The cost of the satellite is expected to be recovered under the company’s insurance policy.”
