Historic direct-to-cell phone test mission
planned to reach orbit September 10th
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, today
announced its BlueWalker 3 (BW3) test satellite is planned to reach
orbit September 10 from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral,
Florida, a mission that plans to kick off testing with mobile
network operators on six continents, including North America.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220908005651/en/
AST SpaceMobile, Inc., today announced
its BlueWalker 3 test satellite is planned to reach orbit September
10 from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Photo:
Business Wire)
"The start of the BlueWalker 3 mission is a major step forward
to provide space-based cellular broadband," said Abel Avellan,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AST SpaceMobile. "With
agreements and understandings from mobile network operators who
collectively provide service to over 1.8 billion subscribers around
the globe, the BW3 mission bolsters our mutual commitment to
connect the unconnected."
The actual date BW3 reaches orbit remains subject to change and
is contingent on several factors, including, but not limited to,
timely readiness of the launch vehicle, weather conditions,
technical problems, and other unknowns.
At 693 square feet, the phased array on BlueWalker 3 will be the
largest commercial communications array ever deployed to low Earth
orbit. This large array of antennas is designed to connect directly
to existing mobile phones from a much longer distance than
traditional cell towers. AST SpaceMobile has a portfolio of more
than 2,400 patent- and patent-pending claims supporting its
cellular broadband technology.
Once BlueWalker 3 is deployed and operational, in-orbit testing
and configuration will begin. AST SpaceMobile plans to conduct BW3
direct-to-cell phone testing on six continents, including North
America. Mobile network operators (MNOs) in the mission's test
plans include Vodafone, Rakuten Mobile, and Orange, among others.
AST SpaceMobile has agreements and understandings with more than 25
MNOs, including a mutual exclusivity with Vodafone in 24
countries.
Members of the public will be able to watch a live broadcast on
September 10th on AST SpaceMobile's YouTube channel or view it in
person at several public viewing locations throughout the Cape
Canaveral area.
Additional details on the BlueWalker 3 mission can be seen in
this video.
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 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.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220908005651/en/
Investor Contact: Scott Wisniewski
investors@ast-science.com
Media Contact: Brandyn Bissinger press@ast-science.com +1
866 845 6521
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