An excellent overview of AST SpaceMobile following the New Glenn launch failure
Link here. For an article in a mainstream media outlet the writing is remarkable in its general accuracy and understanding of the larger context. It is also quite thorough, covering all aspects of AST SpaceMobile’s business model and how it stacks up against its main competitor, SpaceX’s Starlink.
According to the article, the company still hopes to get as many as 45 of its large new Bluebird satellites in orbit by the end of this year, though it admits the New Glenn failure now makes that goal more difficult. As the article notes:
AST SpaceMobile is continuing to manufacture, assemble and test satellites in Midland, and it will soon ship three new BlueBird satellites for launch on a yet-to-be-announced rocket. [emphasis mine]
That unnamed rocket is likely the Falcon 9, but at some point AST must find other rockets, as there is likely a limit to how many launches SpaceX can provide. Both ULA’s Vulcan rocket and Blue Origin’s New Glenn are both presently grounded because of launch failures, and other than SpaceX’s Falcon-9 and Falcon Heavy they are the only American rockets capable of launching the Bluebirds. It is also doubtful AST can buy flights on Europe’s Ariane-6 rocket. Though that rocket has had trouble garnering customers because of its high cost, its operator, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) commercial agency Arianespace, has also been very slow to ramp up operations. Even if AST was willing to pay a premium, Arianespace would likely not be able to fit extra launches into its schedule.
Overall, this situation illustrates a great opportunity. There is a strong demand for rockets from the satellite industry that the present rocket industry — excluding SpaceX — has been unable to meet.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Link here. For an article in a mainstream media outlet the writing is remarkable in its general accuracy and understanding of the larger context. It is also quite thorough, covering all aspects of AST SpaceMobile’s business model and how it stacks up against its main competitor, SpaceX’s Starlink.
According to the article, the company still hopes to get as many as 45 of its large new Bluebird satellites in orbit by the end of this year, though it admits the New Glenn failure now makes that goal more difficult. As the article notes:
AST SpaceMobile is continuing to manufacture, assemble and test satellites in Midland, and it will soon ship three new BlueBird satellites for launch on a yet-to-be-announced rocket. [emphasis mine]
That unnamed rocket is likely the Falcon 9, but at some point AST must find other rockets, as there is likely a limit to how many launches SpaceX can provide. Both ULA’s Vulcan rocket and Blue Origin’s New Glenn are both presently grounded because of launch failures, and other than SpaceX’s Falcon-9 and Falcon Heavy they are the only American rockets capable of launching the Bluebirds. It is also doubtful AST can buy flights on Europe’s Ariane-6 rocket. Though that rocket has had trouble garnering customers because of its high cost, its operator, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) commercial agency Arianespace, has also been very slow to ramp up operations. Even if AST was willing to pay a premium, Arianespace would likely not be able to fit extra launches into its schedule.
Overall, this situation illustrates a great opportunity. There is a strong demand for rockets from the satellite industry that the present rocket industry — excluding SpaceX — has been unable to meet.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Like a professional sports trade, “and a rocket to be named later.” The Starlink internet web site now says “No upfront Residential hardware cost. Professional installation.” So minimal barrier for customers.
The AST huge phased array antenna is unique for commercial offerings. Maybe they will draw an inside straight and the next Starship test will pass with flying colors and commercial Starship will be going by the end of this year.