AST SpaceMobile

In February 2026 AST issues $1.075B of 2.25% convertible senior notes due 2036 (including a $75M greenshoe) to fund constellation deployment, U.S. government opportunities, debt reduction, and opportunistic investments.

On February 22, 2026 the Space Development Agency awards AST SpaceMobile USA a $30M firm-fixed-price HALO Europa Track 2 prototype agreement — the company's first prime contract — to demonstrate tactical direct-to-device SATCOM (TACSATCOM) using AST's commercial space vehicles, with demonstrations to be completed by December 2027.

On January 16, 2026, AST SpaceMobile announces it was awarded a prime contract position on the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program — the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity vehicle underpinning the broader 'Golden Dome' missile-defense architecture. The award lets AST compete directly for task orders spanning research, development, engineering, prototyping, and operations of MDA systems, validating its dual-use, space-based direct-to-device technology for national-security missions.

On March 3, 2026 TELUS signs a commercial agreement to bring AST's direct-to-cell service across Canada, investing in ground infrastructure and becoming an equity shareholder, with text, voice, and data service targeted for late 2026.

On April 21, 2026 the FCC issues an order authorizing AST SpaceMobile to deploy a constellation of up to 248 satellites and to provide commercial Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) — direct-to-device cellular broadband to unmodified smartphones — across the United States using terrestrial low-band (700/800 MHz) spectrum coordinated with Verizon, AT&T and FirstNet. The license requires AST to launch at least half the constellation (124 satellites) by August 2, 2030 and the full network by August 2, 2033, marking AST's first U.S. commercial operating authority.

Blue Origin's third New Glenn mission reuses and lands its booster, but places AST's BlueBird 7 satellite into a lower-than-planned orbit; AST says the satellite will be deorbited and that BlueBird 8-10 remain the next launch candidates.

On June 9, 2026 AST announces that BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 will launch together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on June 17, 2026 — its first multi-satellite mission. The company says it can now build up to six fully equipped BlueBirds per month across two Midland, Texas sites, with BlueBird 11-33 in advanced production and phased arrays completed through BlueBird 28.

On June 17, 2026 AST successfully launches BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, with the upper stage deploying all three into low Earth orbit about an hour after liftoff — its first multi-satellite mission and a recovery from the April BlueBird 7 loss. The next-generation satellites carry the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in LEO (~2,400 sq ft each), quadrupling AST's next-gen in-orbit fleet and bringing the company to 10 satellites in orbit.

On June 24, 2026 a subcommittee of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Information and Communications Council approved a recommendation allowing direct low-Earth-orbit satellite-to-smartphone connectivity over the 700 MHz band that Rakuten already uses for terrestrial mobile. Japan is expected to revise the related ministerial ordinances in September, clearing a path for Rakuten and AST to launch service, with a phased rollout beginning late 2026 and nationwide coverage targeted in fiscal 2027. Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said the two will form a 50/50 satellite joint venture this year, with Rakuten leading management.

Reporting on June 29, 2026 revealed that Japan's government is set to provide up to 150 billion yen (about $926 million) over three years to the Rakuten-led consortium building a homegrown low-Earth-orbit network using AST SpaceMobile's direct-to-smartphone technology. The funding targets equipment procurement, ground facilities and the systems needed to launch and control the constellation, reinforcing the planned 50/50 Rakuten-AST joint venture aimed at limited service in 2026 and nationwide coverage in fiscal 2027. AST SpaceMobile shares jumped roughly 21% on the news, their best day in nearly two years.

On July 2, 2026 Vodafone Ireland — through Satellite Connect Europe, its joint venture with AST SpaceMobile — and Ireland's Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) completed a live mission-critical emergency-services call over AST's constellation from Clare Island, County Mayo, to standard smartphones. Described as a first of its kind in Europe, the trial demonstrated that direct-to-device satellite connectivity can keep 999/112 and blue-light services reachable when terrestrial networks are down.

On July 15, 2026 AST SpaceMobile priced a private offering of $1.0 billion of 1.625% convertible senior notes due 2034, with an initial conversion price of about $79.57 per share, a capped-call cap near $149.20, and a 13-day option for initial purchasers to buy up to $150 million more; settlement was expected around July 20. The company said it would use proceeds to fund growth initiatives and secure additional access to orbit for its BlueBird constellation. ASTS shares fell more than 17% on the added dilution — a reversal from earlier 2026 financings that had lifted the stock.

On July 15, 2026 Bell Canada announced it had completed construction of its first sovereign direct-to-device satellite ground station, in Québec, and had passed integration testing — text, broadband data, and voice and video calls on standard smartphones — connecting to AST SpaceMobile's constellation. Bell is building additional ground stations in Ontario, Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador and is targeting a space-based cellular service launch in 2027.

Launches BlueBird 6 on December 23, 2025 — the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in LEO. Google invests $203.3M. stc group signs 10-year agreement with $175M prepayment. Raises $1.575B in convertible notes across two offerings. Total liquidity reaches $3.9B.

On November 25, 2025 AST SpaceMobile announces two new production facilities — one in Midland, Texas and one in Homestead, Florida — bringing its Texas footprint to five sites and its total manufacturing footprint to about 500,000 sq ft, while doubling its U.S. headcount to more than 1,800 employees to accelerate next-generation BlueBird production toward a cadence of up to six satellites per month.

Launches first 5 commercial BlueBird satellites on September 12, 2024. Secures $100M Verizon partnership and Vodafone commercial contract through 2034.

Achieves the first-ever two-way voice call from space to a standard, unmodified smartphone on April 25, 2023 — a historic milestone for direct-to-cell satellite communications.

Launches BlueWalker 3, a prototype satellite with a massive 64 sq meter phased array antenna, on September 10, 2022. The satellite successfully deploys the largest commercial communications array ever in LEO.

AST SpaceMobile goes public through a SPAC merger with New Providence Acquisition Corp, raising $462M. Trades on NASDAQ under ticker ASTS.

Abel Avellan founds AST SpaceMobile with the goal of building a space-based cellular network that works with standard smartphones, eliminating coverage dead zones worldwide.