AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ASTS has accelerated BlueBird deployment as it moves toward beta service and broader commercialization. Six satellites launched within 50 days lifted its in-orbit network to 13 spacecraft.
The investment question is whether that pace can support meaningful 2026 revenues while the company manages launch risk, network activation and the spending needed to reach continuous coverage.
ASTS Adds Six BlueBirds in Just 50 Days
BlueBirds 8, 9 and 10 launched in June, followed by BlueBirds 11, 12 and 13 in August. The newer satellites use approximately 2,400-square-foot communications arrays and are designed to provide direct broadband connectivity to standard smartphones.
The six launches expanded AST SpaceMobile’s network to 13 in-orbit spacecraft. The company expects its newer Block 2 satellites to approach 200 Mbps in peak data rates, versus nearly 100 Mbps demonstrated by the initial Block 1 satellites.
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. Price and Consensus
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AST SpaceMobile Targets 45 Satellites by Early 2027
BlueBirds 14, 15 and 16 were ready to ship around the second-quarter update, while BlueBirds 17 through 46 were in various stages of production and assembly. AST SpaceMobile targets approximately 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by early 2027.
Management estimates that roughly 45 to 60 satellites could provide continuous service across key markets. That target makes manufacturing cadence and dependable access to launch capacity central to the company’s expansion plan.
ASTS Links Deployment to Commercial Activation
AST SpaceMobile is preparing beta service with selected mobile network operators during 2026. It has activated about 3,000 digital cells across the continental United States, while nearly 50 gateways are in various stages of completion, installation and planning.
Carrier relationships provide a path from satellite coverage to customer service. AT&T Inc. T has a definitive commercial agreement with AST SpaceMobile through 2030 for space-based broadband direct to everyday cell phones. Verizon Communications Inc. VZ has also partnered with AST SpaceMobile to expand direct-to-cellular coverage, including use of 850-megahertz spectrum.
AST SpaceMobile Has Revenue Milestones Ahead
Management reiterated full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $150 million to $200 million. Second-quarter revenues were $31.5 million, driven primarily by commercial gateway deliveries and U.S. government service milestones.
AST SpaceMobile also reported approximately $1.3 billion in aggregate contracted revenue agreements and U.S. government awards. Management expects 2026 revenues to build sequentially and be weighted toward the fourth quarter, with potential initial commercial service revenues adding to gateway and government contributions.
ASTS Cannot Afford Repeated Launch Setbacks
BlueBird 7 was placed into a lower-than-planned orbit in April 2026 and later de-orbited because the altitude was insufficient for sustained operations. AST SpaceMobile recorded a $125.9 million loss on involuntary conversion in the second quarter.
The company still depends on repeated successful launches to reach approximately 45 satellites by early 2027. Additional delays or failures could postpone continuous service across key markets and shift revenue realization, directly linking launch reliability to the commercialization timetable.
ASTS Rating Signals Keep Expectations in Check
The launch cadence is advancing, but meaningful commercial progress still depends on turning a larger constellation into reliable service and recurring revenues. Government contracts and gateway deliveries support the near-term revenue plan, while broader service activation remains an execution test.
ASTS currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with a VGM Score of F, Value Score of F, Growth Score of F and Momentum Score of D. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. A Hold rank can support maintaining an existing position, while the weaker Style Scores indicate less favorable value, growth and momentum characteristics than higher-scoring stocks. The signals favor measured expectations as deployment continues.
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