AST SpaceMobile Launch Spurs EchoStar Valuation Talk

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) said in a press release on June 17, 2026, that BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 reached orbit after a Falcon 9 liftoff from Cape Canaveral; SpaceX confirmed the deployment, and market coverage linked the event to gains in related stocks.

BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 Reach Orbit

AST SpaceMobile announced the successful orbital launch of BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 in a company press release. The mission lifted off at 2:39 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The company described these satellites as its three largest direct-to-phone spacecraft, designed to expand its space-based cellular broadband network for commercial and government customers.

SpaceX’s launch commentary confirmed the three payloads reached low Earth orbit and that deployment was successful after separation. SpaceX had previously launched BlueBird 1 through 5 in September 2024, establishing operational continuity between the firms.

EchoStar Valuation Reassessed on SpaceX Stake

Following the launch, analysts reassessed EchoStar’s valuation based on its ownership stake in SpaceX. New Street raised EchoStar’s target to $165 per share, while other market summaries placed a SpaceX-derived value between $159 and $161. These reappraisals, tied to SpaceX’s recent public listing, have renewed investor focus on telecom and satellite companies as indirect ways to gain exposure to SpaceX.

The operational milestone for AST SpaceMobile and the ensuing market commentary illustrate how launches can quickly reshape valuation discussions across the telecom and satellite sector, spotlighting companies with indirect SpaceX holdings.