AST SpaceMobile BlueBird LEO satellite constellation
| Position: | LEO |
| Manufacturer: | AST SpaceMobile |
| Operator: | AST SpaceMobile |
| Launch operators: | Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) |
| SpaceX | |
| Launch vehicles: | Falcon 9 |
| PSLV | |
| Launch date: | |
| Expected lifetime: | 10 Years |
AST SpaceMobile BlueBird LEO satellite constellation
AST SpaceMobile BlueBird LEO satellite constellation is being built and operated by AST SpaceMobile based in the USA. AST SpaceMobile is a public company that is building the first broadband satellite network to connect directly with smartphones. The company plans a network of 20 LEO satellites (BlueBirds) and doesn’t require special equipment to cover 49 of the largest countries in equatorial regions, including a number of markets in Africa.
The company is based in Midland, Texas in the USA and is operating in collaboration with mobile phone operator Vodafone.
AST SpaceMobile’s first test satellite, BlueWalker-1, built by Lithuanian company NanoAvionics, was launched in April 2019 on a PSLV launch vehicle operated by ISRO from India. The spacecraft was released into a lower than planned orbit due to a delayed deployment. This reduced the orbital life time slightly. The satellite proved that it could link directly to cellphones.
BlueWalker-1 (BW1)
BlueWalker-1 was built by Lithuanian company NanoAvionics and was built in one month. The satellite was AST SpaceMobile’s first test satellite and is based on NanoAvionics’ M6P High-performance Multi-purpose 6U Nano-satellite bus.
BlueWalker-1 was launched on April 1st 2019 on a PSLV launch vehicle operated by ISRO from India. The spacecraft was released into a lower than planned orbit due to a delayed deployment. This reduced the orbital life time slightly. The satellite proved that it could link directly to cellphones.
BlueWalker-3 (BW3)
BlueWalker-3 is a Nano-satellite that was built in-house by operator AST SpaceMobile. The satellite is a prototype for the larger operational BlueBird satellites. The first five BlueBird satellites will be similar to BlueWalker 3, while the remaining will be larger.
The 1.5 tonnes weighing satellite will deploy a 10m diameter phased array antenna with 64 sqm area consisting of numerous identical sub-antenna modules to connect directly to standard mobile phones.
BlueWalker-3 was launched on September 10th, 2022 by SpaceX as a passenger with SpaceX’ Starlink 4-2 mission, from the Cape Canaveral launch base in Florida, USA. The launch was originally scheduled on March 2022 but delayed due to supply chain issues.
AST SpaceMobile BlueBird LEO satellite constellation
