{"id":461387,"date":"2026-02-11T03:32:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T03:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/461387\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T03:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T03:32:10","slug":"ast-spacemobile-successfully-completes-unfolding-of-bluebird-6-the-largest-commercial-communications-array-antenna-ever-deployed-in-low-earth-orbit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/461387\/","title":{"rendered":"AST SpaceMobile Successfully Completes Unfolding of BlueBird 6, the Largest Commercial Communications Array Antenna Ever Deployed in Low Earth Orbit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>     <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/91ffbb864e0c77689e90dcfa82d1c783.jpeg\" alt=\"AST SpaceMobile 2,400 square feet phased array\" loading=\"eager\" height=\"237\" width=\"480\" class=\"yf-lglytj  loaded\"\/> AST SpaceMobile 2,400 square feet phased array       <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"240\" width=\"480\" class=\"yf-lglytj loader\"\/>     <\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">BlueBird 6 is the largest ever commercial communications array deployed in low Earth orbit, designed to support cellular broadband peak data speeds of up to 120 Mbps<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">MIDLAND, Texas, February 11, 2026&#8211;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:BUSINESS WIRE;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)&#8211;AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (&#8220;AST SpaceMobile&#8221;) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, today announced the successful unfolding of its next-generation BlueBird 6 satellite.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">BlueBird 6 features the largest commercial communications array antenna ever deployed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Spanning approximately 2,400 square feet, the satellite is engineered to support peak data speeds of up to 120 Mbps with plans to deliver up to ten times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird 1-5 series. The aperture enables full 4G and 5G cellular broadband services, including voice, data, and video to standard, unmodified smartphones everywhere. The company is on track to launch 45\u201360 satellites by the end of 2026, with launches planned every one or two months on average.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">The performance of BlueBird 6 is driven by several major breakthroughs in space-based architecture. The massive antenna array significantly allows the satellite to reliably transmit and receive signals from standard handheld devices. Furthermore, the large aperture enables highly precise beamforming, creating narrower, more focused coverage areas. This precision minimizes interference, maximizes network capacity, and ensures consistent, high-quality user experience for cellular broadband services, including voice, data, and video.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">&#8220;BlueBird 6 is the result of specialized American manufacturing combined with world-class engineering ingenuity,&#8221; said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. &#8220;We are not just building satellites; we built a new way to manufacture innovative space technology at scale, and we have cultivated a highly skilled workforce capable of operating at the frontier of aerospace and telecommunications. These teams are contributing directly to developing unprecedented capabilities that will change how the world connects in a market we invented. We have developed a unique design and a proprietary process, and we are building the future of connectivity right here at home.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">This milestone represents years of innovation and proprietary engineering, supported by more than 3,800 patent and patent pending claims, and is yet another step in the Company\u2019s execution of its commercial roadmap, validating its differentiated, vertically integrated manufacturing and technology platform.<\/p>\n<p>    Story continues  <\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">The company operates nearly 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and operations facilities and employs a workforce of nearly 1,800 people. The company is 95% vertically integrated, maintaining strict United States control over the manufacturing process.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">AST SpaceMobile has agreements with over 50 mobile network operators globally with nearly 3 billion subscribers combined and strategic partnerships with AT&amp;T, Verizon, Vodafone, Rakuten, Google, American Tower, Bell and stc Group.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">About AST SpaceMobile<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio, and designed for both commercial and government applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to enable 4G and 5G space-based cellular broadband to every device, everywhere, for today\u2019s nearly 6 billion mobile subscribers globally. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on <a href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fchannel%2FUCDr2JePebZFY-vwQaZueftg&amp;esheet=54421864&amp;newsitemid=20260210108166&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=YouTube&amp;index=1&amp;md5=65ac39ea8b065b36ff9667698875ec07\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:YouTube;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">YouTube<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FAST_SpaceMobile&amp;esheet=54421864&amp;newsitemid=20260210108166&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=X+%28Formerly+Twitter%29&amp;index=2&amp;md5=f0b0174bfb7e6afcb1e886a96cb537a3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:X (Formerly Twitter);elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">X (Formerly Twitter)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fauthwall%3Ftrk%3Dbf%26trkInfo%3DAQHKqM4IojiV3gAAAYct9c_ozRwv13-eVjLgh1BhGTNXnjdhcPOM12k9tJTT3SiaDeJ9Uw55CTWOvOxo1Gv97tcPXJ-TNk2ZdYJe_E7E93RPl60HxEJOQdnFqVRCxenRTvAzKsg%3D%26original_referer%3D%26sessionRedirect%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.linkedin.com%252Fcompany%252Fast-spacemobile%252F&amp;esheet=54421864&amp;newsitemid=20260210108166&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=LinkedIn&amp;index=3&amp;md5=89926946dc9c2eca87b44a24123e01df\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:LinkedIn;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">LinkedIn <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FASTSpaceMobile&amp;esheet=54421864&amp;newsitemid=20260210108166&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Facebook&amp;index=4&amp;md5=7434fb3a1da65365b440cc20a8f397a2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Facebook;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Facebook<\/a>. Watch <a href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FGO9-SBCq8oY&amp;esheet=54421864&amp;newsitemid=20260210108166&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=this+video&amp;index=5&amp;md5=66f23e995d8d15a4e5f0f2662d922626\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:this video;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">this video<\/a> for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">Forward-Looking Statements<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">This communication contains &#8220;forward-looking statements&#8221; that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of AST SpaceMobile to differ materially from those expected and projected. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words &#8220;believes,&#8221; &#8220;estimates,&#8221; &#8220;anticipates,&#8221; &#8220;expects,&#8221; &#8220;intends,&#8221; &#8220;plans,&#8221; &#8220;may,&#8221; &#8220;will,&#8221; &#8220;would,&#8221; &#8220;potential,&#8221; &#8220;projects,&#8221; &#8220;predicts,&#8221; &#8220;continue,&#8221; or &#8220;should,&#8221; or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside AST SpaceMobile\u2019s control and are difficult to predict.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) expectations regarding AST SpaceMobile\u2019s strategies and future financial performance, including AST\u2019s future business plans or objectives, expected functionality of the SpaceMobile Service, anticipated timing of the launch of the Block 2 BlueBird satellites, anticipated demand and acceptance of mobile satellite services, prospective performance and commercial opportunities and competitors, the timing of obtaining regulatory approvals, ability to finance its research and development activities, commercial partnership acquisition and retention, products and services, pricing, marketing plans, operating expenses, market trends, revenues, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and AST SpaceMobile\u2019s ability to invest in growth initiatives; (ii) the negotiation of definitive agreements with mobile network operators relating to the SpaceMobile Service that would supersede preliminary agreements and memoranda of understanding and the ability to enter into commercial agreements with other parties or government entities; (iii) the ability of AST SpaceMobile to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees and AST SpaceMobile\u2019s responses to actions of its competitors and its ability to effectively compete; (iv) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (v) the possibility that AST SpaceMobile may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and\/or competitive factors; (vi) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against AST SpaceMobile; and (vii) other risks and uncertainties indicated in the Company\u2019s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including those in the Risk Factors section of AST SpaceMobile\u2019s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2025 and Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 12, 2025 and November 10, 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">AST SpaceMobile cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. AST SpaceMobile cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors in AST SpaceMobile\u2019s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2025 and Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 12, 2025 and November 10, 2025. AST SpaceMobile\u2019s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC\u2019s website at <a href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sec.gov&amp;esheet=54421864&amp;newsitemid=20260210108166&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.sec.gov&amp;index=6&amp;md5=d4c987dde6ff88cf7f6659cdbac5c857\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:www.sec.gov;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">www.sec.gov<\/a>. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, AST SpaceMobile disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">View source version on businesswire.com: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20260210108166\/en\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20260210108166\/en\/;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20260210108166\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">Contacts<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\">Investor:<br \/>Scott Wisniewski<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/mailto:investors@ast-science.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:investors@ast-science.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" target=\"_blank\">investors@ast-science.com <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Media:<br \/>Allison<br \/>Eva Murphy Ryan<br \/>917-547-7289<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/mailto:AstSpaceMobile@allisonpr.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:AstSpaceMobile@allisonpr.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" target=\"_blank\">AstSpaceMobile@allisonpr.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>     <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"AST SpaceMobile 2,400 square feet phased array BlueBird 6 is the largest ever commercial communications array deployed in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":461388,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[24690,79,193],"class_list":{"0":"post-461387","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-space","8":"tag-ast-spacemobile","9":"tag-science","10":"tag-space"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461387","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=461387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461387\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/461388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=461387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=461387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=461387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}