Space Industry and Business News  
SPACEMART
AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 test satellite arrives at Cape Canaveral
by Staff Writers
Midland TX (SPX) Aug 10, 2022

File image of BlueWalker-3 solar arrays

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 announced that its BlueWalker 3 test satellite (BW3) has arrived at Cape Canaveral. The satellite recently departed an off-site testing facility in California after collecting flight data for the upcoming planned launch to low Earth orbit, with a launch window for early to mid-September.

"There are over five billion mobile phones in use today globally, but many of us still experience gaps in coverage as we live, work and travel. Additionally, there are billions of people around the world who still lack access to broadband," said Scott Wisniewski, Chief Strategy Officer at AST SpaceMobile.

"We want our efforts to significantly increase the availability of cellular broadband globally by providing a space-based network to existing, unmodified mobile phones. The delivery of BlueWalker 3 to Cape Canaveral represents another milestone in our efforts to reach this goal."

The actual BW3 launch date remains subject to change and is contingent on a number of factors including, but not limited to, final testing, final integration, timely readiness of the launch vehicle and other unknowns including, but not limited to, weather conditions or technical problems.

Over the summer, AST SpaceMobile completed the assembly and stowing of BW3, including its 693-square-foot phased array of antennas, at the company's Midland, TX headquarters and manufacturing facility. This large array of antennas is designed to connect directly to existing mobile phones from a much longer distance than traditional cell towers. In total, more than 800 tests were conducted on the satellite before it left Texas.

Members of the public will be able to watch a live broadcast of the launch online or view it in person at several public viewing locations throughout the Cape Canaveral area.

Once in low Earth orbit and following initial in-orbit testing and configuration, AST SpaceMobile plans to conduct BW3 direct-to-cell phone testing on every inhabited continent, in coordination with mobile network operators (MNOs). MNOs in the mission's test plans include Vodafone, Rakuten Mobile, and Orange, among others, using cell phone handsets from major global manufacturers.

Concurrent with the launch of BW3, AST SpaceMobile continues to build out its manufacturing capabilities to reach its goal of building six next-generation BlueBird satellites per month. The company intends to launch a low Earth orbit constellation of BlueBirds that would provide cellular broadband from space across the globe - on land, at sea and in the air.


Related Links
AST SpaceMobile
The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


SPACEMART
Spire Global to scale up constellation for HANCOM inSPACE with second satellite
Vienna VA (SPX) Aug 05, 2022
Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) has announced an agreement with HANCOM inSPACE ("Hancom"), initially a spin-off by Korea Aerospace Research Institute and now a part of HANCOM Group, for a second mission with Spire Space Services. Hancom will host an optical payload on a second Spire 6U satellite, named HANCOM-2, and Spire will manage the payload integration, satellite launch and mission operations. HANCOM-1, a Spire 6U satellite carrying an optical payload for Hancom, launched in May 2022 on the S ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SPACEMART
Matter at extreme temperature and pressure turns out to be remarkably simple and universal

Pitt is the only university in the U.S. with this giant 3D printer for metal

Benchmark to keep popular orbits safer with collision avoidance kit

Scientists have created optical fibers with unusual properties

SPACEMART
Satellite operators Eutelsat, OneWeb agree to merge

SKYNET 6A satellite passes Critical Design Review

New satellite series adds capabilities to China's data relay capacity

Airbus to provide 42 satellite platforms and services to Northrop Grumman for the US Space Development Agency program

SPACEMART
SPACEMART
Space Systems Command awards GPS support contract to Lockheed Martin

Safran acquires Orolia and plans to become the world leader in resilient PNT

The face of Galileo

Astrocast acquires Hiber, accelerates OEM strategy.

SPACEMART
Philippines cancels Russia helicopter deal over US sanctions

Turkish defence delegation to visit US for jet talks

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific narrows H1 loss, eyes better end to year

New combat POD System wakes up with software updates during test

SPACEMART
Biden signs major semiconductors investment bill to compete against China

Faster computation for artificial intelligence, with much less energy

Molecular electronics: a possible solution beyond Moore's Law

New method of controlling qubits could advance quantum computers

SPACEMART
Landsat 9 operations to transition from NASA to US Geological Survey

Fleet Space' Exosphere Earth Scanning Technology tested at lithium exploration site

China receives data from newly launched ecosystem monitoring satellite

M2 satellite delivers Australia's first high-res Earth observation images

SPACEMART
Biden signs bill aiding veterans exposed to toxins

'Dead fish everywhere' in German-Polish river after feared chemical waste dump

Study shows environmental impact of 57,000 products sold in supermarkets

It's raining PFAS









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.