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AST Taps SpaceX After Rocket Setback
9 Jun
Summary
- AST SpaceMobile will use SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
- New Glenn rocket experienced a launch failure.
- BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites are scheduled for June 17th.
Following a launch failure with Jeff Bezos's New Glenn rocket, AST SpaceMobile has partnered with Elon Musk's SpaceX. AST will leverage SpaceX's reliable Falcon 9 launch vehicle to advance its ambitious space-based cellular broadband network. This network aims to provide connectivity to everyday smartphones directly from orbit.
The upcoming launches are critical for deploying AST's BlueBird satellites. Specifically, the BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites are scheduled for delivery on Wednesday, June 17th. These spacecraft are notable for possessing the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit, underscoring their significance for the network's development.
