TLDR
- AST SpaceMobile stock jumped nearly 10% after-hours following news that BlueBird 6 satellite completed final assembly and testing
- Barclays raised price target from $37 to $60 while maintaining Overweight rating on the stock
- Company plans to launch new satellites every one to two months through 2025 and 2026, targeting 45-60 satellites in orbit by end of 2026
- FCC approved launch of 20 AST SpaceMobile satellites last month, clearing the path for expanded operations
- Stock has more than doubled in 2025 with retail sentiment turning bullish on Stocktwits
AST SpaceMobile shares climbed nearly 10% in after-hours trading Tuesday. The company announced its first next-generation Block 2 satellite is ready for flight.
BlueBird 6 has completed final assembly and testing. The satellite will depart for India on October 12 aboard an Antonov cargo aircraft.
The announcement marks the beginning of the company’s next-generation BlueBird launch campaign. BlueBird 7 will ship to Cape Canaveral later this month.
BlueBird 6 has completed final assembly and testing and is ready for flight! 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 On October 12, it will head to India aboard an Antonov large cargo plane ✈️
We are officially kicking off our next-gen launch campaign:
• BlueBird 7 is expected to ship to the Cape… pic.twitter.com/wUPzoGyLup— AST SpaceMobile (@AST_SpaceMobile) September 30, 2025
BlueBirds 8 through 16 are in various stages of production. The company plans launches every one to two months through 2025 and 2026.
AST SpaceMobile aims to have 45 to 60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026. Each BlueBird satellite features a 2,400-square-foot phased array.
The satellites can deliver direct-to-cell broadband with speeds up to 120 Mbps per cell. They represent the largest commercial satellites ever launched into low Earth orbit.
Regulatory Approval Paves the Way
The Federal Communications Commission cleared 20 of the company’s satellites for launch last month. The approval came with certain conditions but gives the company green light to expand production.
AST SpaceMobile remains on track to complete 40 phased arrays by early 2026. This will bring its total to BlueBird 46.
The company has partnered with more than 50 mobile network operators. These partners serve nearly 3 billion subscribers worldwide.
AST is combining its licensed spectrum with partner spectrum to support direct 5G connectivity from space. The business model focuses on partnerships rather than direct competition.
Analyst Upgrade Follows Q2 Results
Barclays raised its price target on AST SpaceMobile to $60 from $37. The firm maintained an Overweight rating on the stock.
The upgrade came after the company’s second quarter 2025 results. The company reported earnings per share of -$0.41, below the forecasted -$0.21.
Revenue came in at $1.15 million, falling short of the expected $5.56 million. Barclays lowered near-term estimates due to launch delays.
Despite the miss, the investment bank cited an improved medium-term outlook. T-Mobile and Starlink’s recent text-only service launch at $10 per month supports the business case.
Barclays believes AST’s richer service offering could command higher prices. The planned services include text, calls, and broadband capabilities.
The firm outlined an upside case of $120 per share based on potential cost of capital reduction. A downside case of $5 per share reflects ongoing operational risks.
Retail Investor Interest Heats Up
Retail sentiment on Stocktwits shifted to bullish by early Wednesday. This improved from neutral sentiment the day before.
Message volume jumped 341% in 24 hours. One user stated they were holding 15,000 shares ahead of the launch campaign.
Another user compared the company’s $13 billion market cap to SpaceX’s Starlink valuation of approximately $220 billion. The stock has more than doubled so far in 2025.
The company completed its acquisition of EllioSat Ltd from CCUR Holdings. AST SpaceMobile issued 581,395 shares of Class A common stock valued at $26 million as part of the deal.
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