ASTS Stock Snaps 3-Day Losing Streak On ‘Imminent’ BlueBird Launch — Midland Weighs $150M AST SpaceMobile Deal

• AST SpaceMobile said BlueBird 11 had reached Cape Canaveral and its next orbital launch was “imminent.”
• The next-gen satellites are expected to carry 2,400-square-foot arrays and nearly double peak data speeds.
• New Zealand also approved an ASTS gateway license this week, adding ground infrastructure for a network covering over 3 billion subscribers.

Shares of AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) ended a three-session losing streak on Tuesday after the company said that its next BlueBird launch was “imminent,” while Midland officials outlined a proposed $150 million expansion of its satellite manufacturing operations.

ASTS stock jumped 2% on Tuesday, with shares also up 0.4% overnight late Tuesday. 

AST’s BlueBird 11 Reaches Cape Canaveral

“BlueBird 11 at the Cape. BlueBirds 12 and 13 on the road from Midland to Florida,” AST SpaceMobile said on X. “Next: orbital launch imminent.” The update places three more next-gen BlueBird satellites closer to deployment as AST SpaceMobile looks to build its direct-to-smartphone broadband constellation.

BlueBirds 11, 12 and 13 are expected to feature communications arrays measuring about 2,400 square feet and deliver nearly twice the peak data speeds of the company’s first-generation Block 1 satellites. The satellites recently achieved download speeds of 98.9 Mbps directly to standard, unmodified smartphones. BlueBirds 8, 9 and 10 launched from Cape Canaveral on June 17 and are now operating in orbit. The next launch had previously been targeted for the first half of August.

Midland Weighs $150M ASTS Expansion 

Separately, the Midland Development Corporation said on LinkedIn that its board will consider an economic development agreement with AST SpaceMobile on July 20. The proposal will support expanded satellite manufacturing at the Midland Spaceport Business Park for 1,800 jobs, $150 million in taxable investment and performance-based incentives.

“Midland is building the future of aerospace,” the development corporation said, calling the project “a transformational opportunity for Midland’s economy.” A larger manufacturing footprint could help AST SpaceMobile increase production and sustain a faster launch cadence as it works toward its target of 45 satellites by the end of the year.

New Zealand Clears ASTS Gateway 

The launch and expansion updates follow another milestone earlier this week, when New Zealand authorized a gateway station connected to AST SpaceMobile’s non-geostationary satellite network. The license allows Two Degrees Networks to operate a space-to-Earth gateway using frequencies between 37.5 GHz and 39 GHz.

Gateway stations connect satellites with terrestrial telecom networks, allowing voice and data traffic to flow between space and participating mobile operators. AST SpaceMobile has agreements with nearly 60 mobile-network operators representing over 3 billion subscribers.

How Do Retail Traders Feel About ASTS?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for ASTS has been ‘bearish’ over the past week amid a 34% decline in 24-hour message volumes.

One user speculated that the Midland expansion could be crucial to AST SpaceMobile’s J-LEO (Japan's Starlink), saying: "The pieces are coming together!"

Another user said, “If you think like an OWNER (as opposed to holding shares to play with), then this is an easy hold through the volatility. Progress is being made and ASTS will be the dominant player. The constellation WILL be completed and properly valued accordingly.”

ASTS stock has jumped 44% over the past year. 

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