AST SpaceMobile Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) saw its shares surge nearly 12% on Thursday, breaking a two-day losing streak as investors reacted to the confirmed launch date for three new BlueBird satellites. The stock closed at $97.56, up $10.24, after trading between $86.92 and $98.10 during the regular session. In after-hours trading, shares reached $101.00, according to Stock Analysis data, reflecting continued optimism around the company's deployment milestones.
The company announced that BlueBird satellites 8, 9, and 10 are scheduled to launch on Wednesday, June 17, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch window opens at 2:39 a.m. EDT and extends until 4:15 a.m. EDT. This development follows recent volatility, including a 3.64% drop on June 9 and a 1.57% decline on June 10, which were largely erased by Thursday's rally.
AST SpaceMobile president Scott Wisniewski described the upcoming mission as "another important milestone" for the company as it advances its space-based cellular broadband network. The new satellites are expected to significantly enhance network capacity, with the company stating they will nearly double peak data speeds compared to the initial Block 1 satellites. The first Block 1 BlueBirds recently achieved peak download speeds of 98.9 Mbps directly to unmodified smartphones.
Each of the three new BlueBird satellites features commercial communications arrays measuring approximately 2,400 square feet, matching the size of BlueBird 6 already in orbit. The mission aims to support voice, data, and video services for both commercial and government communications, operating on standard smartphones without hardware modifications.
The broader market provided additional tailwinds, with the Nasdaq Composite climbing 2.54% to 25,809.66. Several space-related stocks saw after-hours gains as SpaceX trading activity increased, according to MarketWatch. This positive market context helped lift high-growth tech and space stocks, including AST SpaceMobile.
Execution risk remains a key concern for investors. In April, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket successfully landed its reusable booster but failed to deliver AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite to the target orbit. The company subsequently announced the satellite was too low to function and would need to be de-orbited. Reuters reported that BlueBird satellites 8 through 10 could be ready for shipment within approximately one month, placing the upcoming Falcon 9 mission squarely in focus for AST's launch schedule.
The company's investment thesis hinges on its ability to translate satellite launches into tangible service coverage and revenue. In its latest quarterly report, AST SpaceMobile maintained its full-year revenue target of $150 million to $200 million, reported first-quarter revenue of $14.7 million, and disclosed approximately $3.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of March 31. The company aims to have about 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by the end of 2026, according to its first-quarter update.
With the June 17 launch now confirmed, AST SpaceMobile appears poised to take another step toward its goal of providing ubiquitous satellite-to-smartphone broadband connectivity. Investors will be closely watching the mission's success and the subsequent impact on the company's network capabilities and financial performance.
