BlueBird 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (original) (raw)
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BlueBird 1 [AST & Science]
BlueBird 1 to 5 are the initial five satellites for AST & Science's SpaceMobile mobile communications constellation.
The satellites use AST & Science's patented technologies for connecting to cellphones in a space environment for their SpaceMobile constellation. The ~ 1.5 ton satellites will deploy a 10 m diameter phased array antenna with 64 m2 area consisting of numerous identical sub-antenna modules to connect directly to standard mobile phones.
Each BlueBird satellite has a communications array measuring 64.38 square meters to establish connectivity directly with cell phones via 3GPP-standard frequencies, and in partnership with leading cellular service providers around the world. For launch, each satellite has a cylindrical payload adaptor, which will be discarded as debris after deployment.
The first five satellites are closely based on the BlueWalker 3 prototype with improvements to accelerate deployment of the operational constellation. The later BlueBird Block 2 satellites will be larger, more poweful and will not have payload adaptors.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Communications, technology |
| Operator: | AST & Science |
| Contractors: | AST & Science |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | ~1500 kg |
| Orbit: | 507 km × 523 km, 53.0� |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlueBird 1 (SpaceMobile 001) | 2024-163C | 12.09.2024 | CC SLC-40 | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with BlueBird 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| BlueBird 2 (SpaceMobile 002) | 2024-163D | 12.09.2024 | CC SLC-40 | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with BlueBird 1, 3, 4, 5 |
| BlueBird 3 (SpaceMobile 003) | 2024-163A | 12.09.2024 | CC SLC-40 | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with BlueBird 1, 2, 4, 5 |
| BlueBird 4 (SpaceMobile 004) | 2024-163E | 12.09.2024 | CC SLC-40 | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with BlueBird 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| BlueBird 5 (SpaceMobile 005) | 2024-163B | 12.09.2024 | CC SLC-40 | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with BlueBird 1, 2, 3, 4 |