The BlueWalker 3 test satellite is scheduled
for launch into low Earth orbit the week of August 15th from Cape
Canaveral, FL
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the
company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband
network accessible directly by standard mobile phones, has
confirmed it plans to launch its BlueWalker 3 test satellite from
Cape Canaveral, FL during the week of August 15, 2022.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220613005460/en/
AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 test
satellite is 693 square feet in size, designed to generate power
from space and deliver cellular broadband directly to your phone.
(Photo: Business Wire)
The actual launch date remains subject to change and is
contingent on a number of factors including, but not limited to,
final testing, final integration, ground transport, timely
readiness of the launch vehicle and other unknowns including, but
not limited to, weather conditions or technical problems.
BlueWalker 3 carries a 693-square-foot phased array that is
designed to test cellular broadband communications directly with
standard mobile phones, from space, for the first time. AST
SpaceMobile has invested approximately $85 million in the
satellite’s development and the company’s engineers have
successfully conducted more than 800 ground tests with BlueWalker
3. To date, the company has over 2,300 patent and patent-pending
claims in support of its technology. The BlueWalker 3 mission is
expected to complete the company’s initial research and development
program and facilitate integration testing with mobile network
operators around the world.
“The launch of BlueWalker 3 is the culmination of years of
effort by our engineers to let us test connecting the phone in your
pocket, with no modifications to the phone, directly with one of
our satellites in space,” said Abel Avellan, Chairman and CEO of
AST SpaceMobile. “This revolutionary technology supports our
mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by more than 5
billion mobile subscribers today moving in and out of coverage, and
bring cellular broadband to approximately half of the world’s
population who remain unconnected. We want to close the gap between
the digital ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted AST
SpaceMobile an experimental license that allows the company to test
BlueWalker 3 satellite-to-phone connectivity in the United States
at sites in Texas and Hawaii. Once BlueWalker 3 is operational, the
company plans to conduct testing on 5 different continents, in
coordination with leading mobile network operators like Vodafone,
Rakuten Mobile, Orange and others.
AST SpaceMobile’s investors and strategic partners in support of
the company and its mission are leaders in cellular technology and
infrastructure, digital services and the internet, including
Vodafone, Rakuten Mobile and American Tower.
About AST SpaceMobile
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.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” that
are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results of AST SpaceMobile to differ materially
from those expected and projected. These forward-looking statements
can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology,
including the words “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,”
“expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential,”
“projects,” “predicts,” “continue,” or “should,” or, in each case,
their negative or other variations or comparable terminology.
These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and
uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are
outside AST SpaceMobile’s control and are difficult to predict.
Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not
limited to: (i) expectations regarding AST SpaceMobile’s strategies
and future financial performance, including AST’s future business
plans or objectives, expected functionality of the SpaceMobile
Service, anticipated timing and level of deployment of satellites,
anticipated demand and acceptance of mobile satellite services,
prospective performance and commercial opportunities and
competitors, the timing of obtaining regulatory approvals, ability
to finance its research and development activities, commercial
partnership acquisition and retention, products and services,
pricing, marketing plans, operating expenses, market trends,
revenues, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital
expenditures, and AST’s ability to invest in growth initiatives;
(ii) the negotiation of definitive agreements with mobile network
operators relating to the SpaceMobile service that would supersede
preliminary agreements and memoranda of understanding; (iii) the
ability of AST SpaceMobile to grow and manage growth profitably and
retain its key employees and AST SpaceMobile’s responses to actions
of its competitors and its ability to effectively compete; (iv)
changes in applicable laws or regulations; (v) the possibility that
AST SpaceMobile may be adversely affected by other economic,
business, and/or competitive factors; (vi) the outcome of any legal
proceedings that may be instituted against AST SpaceMobile; and
(vii) other risks and uncertainties indicated in the Company’s
filings with the SEC, including those in the Risk Factors section
of AST SpaceMobile’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31,
2022.
The actual launch date for the BW3 test satellite remains
subject to change and is contingent on a number of factors, many of
which are outside of our control. These factors include, but are
not limited to, final testing, final integration, ground transport,
timely readiness of the launch vehicle and other unknowns such as
weather conditions or technical problems. The BW3 test launch may
not be successful or even if successful, may indicate adjustments
that are needed or modifications that must be made, any of which
could result in additional costs, which could be material, and
delays in our timeline. If there are material additional costs, we
may need to raise additional capital beyond what is currently
contemplated.
AST SpaceMobile cautions that the foregoing list of factors is
not exclusive. AST SpaceMobile cautions readers not to place undue
reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date made. For information identifying important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the
Risk Factors incorporated by reference into AST SpaceMobile’s Form
10-K Registration Statement filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022.
AST SpaceMobile’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR
section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov [sec.gov]. Except as
expressly required by applicable securities law, AST SpaceMobile
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220613005460/en/
Investor: Scott Wisniewski investors@ast-science.com
Media: Brandyn Bissinger press@ast-science.com +1 866 845
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