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Corporate Score 52 Bearish

AST SpaceMobile Shares Slide Following Blue Origin Launch Failure

Apr 20, 2026 15:36 UTC
ASTS
Short term

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) saw its stock price drop nearly 10% after a Blue Origin rocket failed to place a new satellite into the correct orbit. While insurance is expected to cover the loss, the setback may delay the company's timeline for revenue generation.

  • BlueBird 7 failed to reach orbit via Blue Origin New Glenn rocket
  • ASTS stock declined 9.9% in early Monday trading
  • Insurance coverage expected to offset the cost of the lost satellite
  • Three replacement satellites are currently nearing launch readiness
  • Company target remains 45 satellites in orbit by year-end 2026
  • SpaceX leads the sector with 650 active DTC satellites

AST SpaceMobile shares fell 9.9% on Monday morning following the announcement that its latest satellite, BlueBird 7, failed to reach its intended orbit during a Sunday launch. The satellite was deployed via a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket; while the first stage successfully landed on a barge, the second stage failed to achieve the necessary orbit, forcing the company to de-orbit the satellite and write it off. Management indicated that the company anticipates occasional launch failures and maintains insurance policies to cover such losses. To mitigate the operational setback, AST SpaceMobile noted that it has three additional satellites nearly ready for launch. The company maintains a goal of deploying 45 satellites by the end of 2026, with launches scheduled to occur every one to two months on average throughout the year. Despite these mitigation efforts, the failure risks delaying the start of beta services for the company's direct-to-cell (DTC) connectivity, which in turn delays the commencement of revenue and profit generation. This operational hurdle comes at a critical time as competition intensifies. SpaceX already has 650 DTC Starlink satellites operational in orbit and is currently providing service, placing AST SpaceMobile at a competitive disadvantage in the race to establish global satellite-to-phone connectivity.

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