Travel Updates Space Coast

Three AST SpaceMobile satellites launch from Cape Canaveral

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 11, 12 and 13 satellites from Cape Canaveral, expanding the company’s direct-to-cell constellation.

By Florida Go Last verified August 12, 2026

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 11, 12 and 13 satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early on Aug. 5.

Launch and deployment

The Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at 3:50 a.m. EDT, shortly after the opening of its launch window. Space.com reported that the first stage landed on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas and that the upper stage deployed the three satellites into low Earth orbit.

AST SpaceMobile had announced before launch that the mission was scheduled from Cape Canaveral aboard a Falcon 9. The company is developing a satellite network intended to connect standard mobile phones directly to cellular broadband service.

Why it matters

The mission added three next-generation BlueBird spacecraft to the constellation. The launch was a Space Coast aerospace event, not an announcement that commercial service had already begun.

This catch-up report covers the 24-hour news window ending Aug. 6, 2026, at 08:00 Kyiv time.

Evidence

Sources

  1. AST SpaceMobile launch-date announcement Business · 2026-07-27
  2. Space.com launch report News · 2026-08-05
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