BW3 Direct-to-Cell Phone Test Mission to Launch September 10th
The BlueWalker 3 (BW3) test satellite that will offer direct-to-cell phone service from space is expected to reach its planned orbit September 10th, according to AST Spacemobile.
"The start of the BlueWalker 3 mission is a major step forward to provide space-based cellular broadband."
Abel Avellan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AST SpaceMobile.
BW3 is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Saturday on a mission that plans to kick off testing with mobile network operators on six continents, including North America.
"The start of the BlueWalker 3 mission is a major step forward to provide space-based cellular broadband," said Abel Avellan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AST SpaceMobile. "With agreements and understandings from mobile network operators who collectively provide service to over 1.8 billion subscribers around the globe, the BW3 mission bolsters our mutual commitment to connect the unconnected."
The actual date BW3 reaches orbit remains subject to change and is contingent on several factors, including, but not limited to, timely readiness of the launch vehicle, weather conditions, technical problems, and other unknowns.
BW3 is the Largest Commercial Communications Array Ever Deployed
At 693 square feet, the phased array on BlueWalker 3 will be the largest commercial communications array ever deployed to low Earth orbit. This large array of antennas is designed to connect directly to existing mobile phones from a much longer distance than traditional cell towers. AST SpaceMobile has a portfolio of more than 2,400 patent- and patent-pending claims supporting its cellular broadband technology.
Once BlueWalker 3 is deployed and operational, in-orbit testing and configuration will begin. AST SpaceMobile plans to conduct BW3 direct-to-cell phone testing on six continents, including North America. Mobile network operators (MNOs) in the mission's test plans include Vodafone, Rakuten Mobile, and Orange, among others. AST SpaceMobile has agreements and understandings with more than 25 MNOs, including a mutual exclusivity with Vodafone in 24 countries.
AST SpaceMobile is building the first global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio.
(Images provided with AST Space Mobile news release)