AST SpaceMobile to De-Orbit BlueBird 7 Satellite After New Glenn Launch Anomaly

BlueBird 7 satellite to be de-orbed after New Glenn rocket places it in a low orbit. AST SpaceMobile to recover costs through insurance and continue 2026 launches.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 10:39 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Business Wire

Orbital Placement Error Halts BlueBird 7 Mission

The latest deployment effort for AST SpaceMobile’s space-based cellular broadband network faced a significant setback on Sunday when the BlueBird 7 satellite was placed into an incorrect orbit. Launched aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn vehicle, the satellite was released into an altitude significantly lower than originally planned due to an underperformance by the rocket’s upper stage. While ground teams successfully established communication and confirmed the satellite powered on, the technical limitations of its onboard thruster technology mean it cannot reach its intended operational station, forcing the company to abandon the mission and de-orbit the craft.

Financial Recovery Through Comprehensive Insurance

Despite the loss of the satellite, AST SpaceMobile expects to mitigate the financial impact through its standing maritime and space insurance policies. The company indicated that the total cost of the satellite is expected to be recovered, providing a fiscal cushion as it manages the operational fallout of the New Glenn 3 mission failure. This risk-management strategy is a standard component of the firm's capital intensive buildup of its orbital constellation, though it does represent a temporary pause in the aggressive expansion of its global broadband coverage capabilities.

Production Resilience and Future Shipment Timelines

The Texas-based company emphasized that the loss of a single unit would not derail its broader strategic objectives for the 2026 calendar year. AST SpaceMobile is currently in active production through BlueBird 32, ensuring a steady pipeline of hardware to replace the lost unit. Management confirmed that BlueBirds 8 through 10 are currently being finalized and are expected to be ready for shipment in approximately 30 days. This manufacturing momentum is critical as the firm attempts to scale its constellation to provide direct-to-smartphone connectivity for both commercial and governmental applications.