AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) has been pushing higher in recent sessions as the company’s CEO publicly reaffirmed its 2026 satellite deployment target and confirmed that the next batch of BlueBird satellites is en route to Cape Canaveral.
Chief executive Abel Avellan told CNBC that AST remains “on target” to deploy 45 satellites during 2026, despite a setback in April when the BlueBird 7 launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket deployed the satellite too low in orbit, resulting in a total loss.
The company confirmed on X that two BlueBird satellites are already making their way to Cape Canaveral with a third close behind, describing the movement as the “BlueBird convoy” officially underway.
BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 are scheduled for a mid-June orbital launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle, keeping the campaign on roughly the cadence the company projected at the start of the year.
AST entered 2026 targeting 45 to 60 satellites in orbit by year end, enough to provide continuous broadband coverage across its target markets via direct-to-device cellular connectivity.
The failed BlueBird 7 launch prompted Bank of America to estimate the company could fall around seven satellites short of its 45-unit target, a shortfall that matters because constellation density directly determines coverage quality.
The company noted the BlueBird 7 loss is covered by insurance, limiting the financial impact even as it complicates the deployment schedule.
AST has FCC authorisation for commercial SpaceMobile service in the United States following a Supplemental Coverage from Space grant for direct-to-device broadband, removing one of the key regulatory overhang risks.
The company holds over $3.5 billion in cash and equivalents, giving it runway to sustain the launch campaign and manufacturing ramp regardless of near-term setbacks.
ASTS has gained 2,689 percent over the past two years, making it one of the most watched satellite names in the market, but the execution pressure around the 2026 launch cadence will remain the primary driver of sentiment.
