8-KCurrent report
Reg FD disclosure
✓ VerifiedAST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite was placed into a lower-than-planned orbit by New Glenn's upper stage and will be de-orbited, with the cost covered by insurance and BlueBird 8 to 10 ready to ship in approximately 30 days.
8.01 Other events
Filed Apr 20, 2026 · 08:30 ET
Summary
- During the April 19, 2026 New Glenn 3 mission, the upper stage released Block 2 BlueBird 7 into an orbit too low to sustain operations with its onboard thrusters.
- The satellite separated and powered on but will be de-orbited; the cost is anticipated to be recovered under insurance.
- BlueBird 7 would have been the company's eighth satellite in low Earth orbit; production runs through BlueBird 32.
- BlueBird 8 to 10 are anticipated ready to ship in approximately 30 days, and the company still anticipates an orbital launch every one to two months on average during 2026 across multiple providers.
Key facts
- Outcome
- De-orbit, insured
From the filing for Outcome
“the altitude is too low to sustain operations with its on-board thruster technology and will be de-orbited”
- Next satellites
- BlueBird 8-10 in ~30 days
From the filing for Next satellites
“with BlueBird 8 to 10 expected to be ready to ship in approximately 30 days”
Why it mattersLosing a satellite to a launch anomaly tests the constellation schedule, and the multi-provider launch cadence is the designed shock absorber.
- Filed
- Apr 20, 2026
- Accepted
- 2026-04-20 12:30Z
- Period
- Apr 19, 2026
- Accession no.
- 0001493152-26-018012
- Size
- 233 KB
- Index
- Filing index