AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), which according to the the company is building the first and only space-based, cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard mobile phones, has announced that the company’s BlueWalker 3 test satellite has been fully assembled and has departed from the firm’s Midland, Texas, headquarters and manufacturing facility.
Over the next few weeks, BlueWalker 3 will be undergoing final environmental testing at an off-site facility in California, which will provide flight data to be used during the launch at Cape Canaveral. Following this activity, BlueWalker 3 will continue its journey to Cape Canaveral, with a launch window planned for early to mid-September.
The actual launch date remains subject to change and is contingent on a number of factors that include, but not limited to, final testing, final integration, ground transport, timely readiness of the launch vehicle and other unknowns that could include weather conditions or technical problems.
AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Watch this video for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.