AST SpaceMobile sets June 17 launch for satellites to build rival broadband network to Starlink

AST SpaceMobile announced its next satellite launch date as June 17, aiming to advance its space-based cellular broadband network. The launch, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, will carry the BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites into low-Earth orbit. This move is part of AST SpaceMobile's effort to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink service. The launch had been delayed due to a previous Blue Origin incident but is now scheduled to proceed mid-June.