SpaceXFalcon 9 Block 5Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8)
Launched
August 5, 2026 · 07:49 UTC
Image: SpaceX
Summary
SpaceX launched three Block 2 BlueBird satellites for AST SpaceMobile. They are the largest commercial satellites ever deployed in low Earth orbit, designed to enable continuous cellular broadband coverage across the United States.
- Watch
- SpaceX BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8)The Space Devs
- Live: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 3 Bluebird satellites + rocket stage moon impact coverageSpaceflight Now
- SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 with Bluebird 11-13NASASpaceflight
- Vehicle
- Falcon 9 Block 5 · SpaceX
- Booster
- B1077 · flight 30 · Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship at A Shortfall of Gravitas · landed167/168 landed here · 49 days after its previous flight, BlueBird 8-10 (Block 2 #3-5) · 635 km downrange
- Mission
- Communications · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 617th Falcon 9 Block 5 flight · 91st this yearSpaceX's 713th launch94th this yearhumanity's 7,358th orbital launch attempt185th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Simulate in Flight ClubOrbit: representative
Target from padside's flight model. Not a catalogued object; this panel switches to the tracked orbit once the object is catalogued. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile. Booster return drawn from padside's representative arc.
Flight timeline
- T−38MGO for Prop Load
- T−35MProp Load
- T−35MStage 1 LOX Load
- T−16MStage 2 LOX Load
- T−7MEngine Chill
- T−1MStartup
- T−1MTank Press
- T−45SGO for Launch
- T−3SIgnition
- T−0Liftoff
- T+1M13SMax-Q
- T+2M27SMECO
- T+2M30SStage 2 Separation
- T+2M38SSES-1
- T+3M15SFairing Separation
- T+6M25SEntry Burn Startup
- T+6M50SEntry Burn Shutdown
- T+8M19SStage 1 Landing Burn
- T+8M33SSECO-1
- T+8M43SStage 1 Landing
- T+46M16SSES-2
- T+46M21SSECO-2
- T+53M45SPayload Separation
- T+59M5SPayload Separation
- T+1H4M25SPayload Separation
About this launch
BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8) launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on August 5, 2026 at 07:49 UTC. The launch window ran from 07:42 to 09:18 UTC. It was SpaceX's 713th launch, 94th this year and humanity's 7,358th orbital launch attempt. It was the 617th Falcon 9 Block 5 flight and the 91st this year. Booster B1077 flew for the 30th time and landed at A Shortfall of Gravitas. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO).
AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird Block 1 satellites, required to achieve 24/7 continuous cellular broadband service coverage in the United States, with beams designed to support a capacity of up to 40 MHz, enabling peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting voice, full data and video applications. The Block 2 BlueBirds, featuring as large as 2400 square foot communications arrays, will be the largest satellites ever commercially deployed in Low Earth orbit once launched. This launch will feature 3 satellites.
News
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 3 AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape CanaveralThe BlueBird 11-13 mission is the third time SpaceX will fly satellites to orbit supporting AST SpaceMobile’s direct-to-device constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled during a window that opens at 3:42 a.m. EDT (0742 UTC).
Launch Preview: Starlink, AST SpaceMobile, and Chinese missions fill launch manifestThe first full week of August is shaping up to be another busy period for…
Rocket Report: Big deals for US launch firms, RFA One debut is delayed"America won the first Space Race, and we can do it again."
Airspace and maritime notices
4 notices filed by the FAA
FAA temporary flight restriction · 4 notices · Expired · up to 18,000 ftMatched by proximity to the pad
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Local — 260805 Full CS SpaceX Bluebird 2-1 (X4000)
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Local — 260805 Full CS SpaceX Bluebird 2-1 (X4000)
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, August 6, 2026 Local — 260806 Full CS SpaceX Bluebird 2-1 (X4000)
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, August 6, 2026 Local — 260806 Full CS SpaceX Bluebird 2-1 (X4000)
Pad
Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
396th launch from Space Launch Complex 40, 42nd this year · 1,124th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Local pad time at liftoff: Aug 5, 3:49 AM EDT, at night
403 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
6 days after the previous launch from this pad
Updates
Launch success.
Show 9 earlier updates
All satellites have separated.
Cosmic_Penguin · 8/5/2026 · source
Liftoff!
hitura-nobad · 8/5/2026 · source
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
LL2 · 8/5/2026 · source
Now targeting Aug 05 at 07:49 UTC
hitura-nobad · 8/5/2026 · source
Updated launch weather, 85% GO.
Cosmic_Penguin · 8/4/2026 · source
Tweaked launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin · 7/29/2026 · source
NET August 5.
Cosmic_Penguin · 7/28/2026 · source
NET early August.
Cosmic_Penguin · 6/23/2026 · source
Added launch.
Cosmic_Penguin · 5/28/2026 · source
Questions
When did BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8) launch?
BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8) launched on August 5, 2026 at 07:49 UTC. The launch window ran from 07:42 to 09:18 UTC.
Where can I watch BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8)?
Coverage: SpaceX BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8); Live: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 3 Bluebird satellites + rocket stage moon impact coverage; SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 with Bluebird 11-13. Watch the replay
What rocket launched BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8)?
Falcon 9 Block 5, flown by SpaceX. Falcon 9 Block 5 spec sheet
Where did BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8) launch from?
Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA. Liftoff was Aug 5, 3:49 AM EDT local time at the pad.
Did the booster land?
Booster B1077 flew for the 30th time and landed at A Shortfall of Gravitas.
What orbit was BlueBird 11-13 (Block 2 #6-8) going to?
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a communications mission.