Press release
AST SpaceMobile's Bluewalker 3 on Target to Deliver the First and Only Space-Based Cellular Broadband
AST SpaceMobile provides interim operational update on its ongoing space-based cellular broadband satellite programs MIDLAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AST
About this update from Ast Spacemobile, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\nAST SpaceMobile provides interim operational update on its ongoing space-based cellular broadband satellite programs\n\n MIDLAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nAST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard mobile phones, provides an operational update on the BlueWalker 3 (BW3), Block 1 BlueBird and next-generation BlueBird programs.\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221213005989/en/AST SpaceMobile, Inc., provided today an operational update on the BlueWalker 3 (BW3), Block 1 BlueBird and next-generation BlueBird programs. (Photo: Business Wire)\n“The achievements to date for BlueWalker 3 validate the design roadmap for our BlueBirds, including deploying and flying the largest-ever commercial communications array in low Earth orbit, a key fundamental and patented technology to deliver space-based cellular broadband directly to unmodified phones,” said Abel Avellan, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “On the back of the successful deployment of BW3’s communications array, we look forward to initiating testing with our mobile network operator partners starting early in the first quarter of 2023.”\n\nUpdate on BlueWalker 3 on-orbit activities, the largest-ever commercial communications array deployed in low Earth orbit\n\n\nAchievements with nominal operations on BW3 satellite over the last 3 months\n\n\nBuilt TT&C (Tracking, Telemetry & Control) network on Earth, with teams monitoring 24/7 BW3 orbit via earth stations in Maryland, Colorado and Australia\n\n\nAchieved nominal operations for guidance, navigation and control of BW3 over the last 3 months at an altitude of ~515km and sustained velocity of ~17,000 mph\n\n\nUpgraded onboard flight control software to incorporate BW3 on-orbit learnings and control the deployed communications array\n\n\nDeployed the 693 square foot communications array, from stowed configuration, in November 2022\n\n\nPowered the communications array in preparation for mobile network operator testing\n\n\nTested patented doppler and delay hardware and software solution on the ground with Rakuten Mobile and Nokia baseband technology\n\n\nCompleted installation of ground network for end-to-end testing in Texas, H...