Blue Origin to launch AST SpaceMobile BlueBird 7 on New Glenn-3

This weekend, Blue Origin is due to send AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 into orbit, along with the company’s enormous antenna spanning roughly 222 m². The aim is to deliver a space-based equivalent of 4G and 5G, covering voice calls, mobile data and even video.

Among the less talked-about challengers to Starlink is the US firm AST SpaceMobile. While the overarching goal is similar-connecting users via satellites-the approach is not. Rather than relying on vast numbers of spacecraft, AST SpaceMobile is betting on very large satellites built specifically for mobile connectivity, working in partnership with network operators.

BlueBird 7 launch with Blue Origin’s New Glenn-3

On 19 April, AST SpaceMobile plans to launch its next-generation satellite, BlueBird 7, on Blue Origin’s New Glenn-3 mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

If everything goes to plan, BlueBird 7 should significantly strengthen the company’s service capacity. This new satellite generation carries a giant antenna with an area of nearly 2,400 square feet, or about 222 m². In practical terms, AST SpaceMobile’s satellites function like huge relay masts in space, capable of connecting ordinary, unmodified mobile phones.

“5G” from space

Calls, mobile data and video

When it comes to performance, AST SpaceMobile says its latest satellites will be able to deliver speeds comparable to 4G or 5G, while supporting voice calling, mobile data and video services. The company also says it is building “the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones”.

To provide this service, AST SpaceMobile is focusing on satellite size rather than sheer quantity. According to Gizmodo, the company is targeting a fleet of a few dozen satellites by the end of the year.

Beyond AST SpaceMobile, the launch also serves as another proving run for Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. In November, the company managed to recover its booster. If that milestone is repeated this weekend, it would be positive not only for Blue Origin but also for other organisations depending on its launch schedule (including Amazon Leo).

What we think

The market for satellite-based mobile internet-aimed at filling gaps where terrestrial networks struggle to reach-is becoming increasingly competitive. Starlink already offers Starlink Mobile, while Amazon Leo recently announced the acquisition of Globalstar. Once that deal is completed, it will also enable Amazon to provide mobile satellite connectivity.