SpaceX is set to launch three BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites for AST SpaceMobile early Wednesday morning, June 17, from Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Cape Canaveral, with the mission marking a key step in building a space-based cellular broadband network.
The BlueBird satellites are designed to connect directly to standard smartphones without requiring modified hardware. Each spacecraft is equipped with a large phased-array antenna to beam cellular signals from orbit, targeting areas beyond traditional tower coverage.
Liftoff is scheduled during a launch window that opens early on June 17. While the specific time has not been disclosed, SpaceX typically launches such missions in pre-dawn hours. This mission follows a series of test launches by AST SpaceMobile to validate its direct-to-cell technology.
Success would push AST SpaceMobile closer to commercial service, potentially bridging connectivity gaps in remote regions. The company competes with rivals like SpaceX's own Starlink direct-to-cell system, which is also under development.
SpaceX will attempt to recover the Falcon 9 first-stage booster on a droneship in the Atlantic. AST SpaceMobile's constellation, once complete, aims to provide continuous global coverage, though regulatory approvals and spectrum rights remain hurdles.