Falcon 9

AST SpaceMobile signs $22.75 million multi-launch contract with SpaceX to launch a space-based cellular broadband network

AST SpaceMobile signs $22.75 million multi-launch contract with SpaceX to launch a space-based cellular broadband network

AST SpaceMobile’s goal is to directly connect mobile phones to the internet through satellites in orbit. On March 8, it announced they signed a $22.75 million multi-launch contract with SpaceX to launch a space-based cellular broadband network. AST SpaceMobile's satellite constellation will allow users to have access to the internet at their fingertips anywhere in the world without any additional hardware or software on the phone.

 

 

SpaceX will begin launching AST SpaceMobile's fleet of BlueWalker and BlueBird satellites to orbit atop Falcon 9 rockets starting this Summer [date pending]. "In addition to the planned summer launch of the BlueWalker 3 test satellite (BW3), the agreement covers the launch of the first BlueBird satellite and provides a framework for future launches," the company announced in a press release. “This agreement secures the availability for a reliable launch of our first production satellites out of the U.S.,” said AST SpaceMobile Founder Abel Avellan. “Our summer launch of BlueWalker 3 will complete the development phase for our company. We have also been industrializing our technology and preparing for the launch of the BlueBird satellites, with this agreement as a key step.” AST SpaceMobile expects to manufacture up to six truck-sized satellites per month at its facility headquartered in Midland, Texas. The company aims to provide initial services after it deploys 20 satellites that could become operational sometime in the year 2023.

 

Previously, the first BlueWalker-3 prototype mission was scheduled to be launched by Russia’s Soyuz rocket as a secondary payload. However, the company switched the launch vehicle after Russia’s primary customer delayed the flight. Then, AST SpaceMobile decided to cancel its contract to launch the cellular satellite network with the Russian-built rocket that would have launched out of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The decision to select SpaceX as launch provider was made last year before the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated on February 24th, though company representatives state they are glad that they took a proactive step to select the American launch provider following Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine. 

Featured Image Source: SpaceX

About the Author

Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo

Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo

Evelyn J. Arevalo joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover news as a Space Journalist and SpaceX Starbase Texas Correspondent. Evelyn is specialized in rocketry and space exploration. The main topics she covers are SpaceX and NASA.

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