# BlueBird 3

> communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q131940354](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131940354)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bluebird-3

## Summary
BlueBird 3 is an American communications satellite operated by AST SpaceMobile and manufactured in the United States. Launched on September 12, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, it serves as the third unit in the BlueBird block 1 series. The satellite operates in low Earth orbit with an approximate mass of 1,500 kilograms.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Communications satellite (BlueBird block 1 series).
- **Operator & Manufacturer:** AST SpaceMobile.
- **Launch Date:** September 12, 2024, at 08:52.
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Falcon 9 Block 5 (Booster B1078.13).
- **Mass:** Approximately 1,500 kilograms.
- **Orbit:** Low Earth orbit.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 2024-163A; SATCAT (SCN) 61045.
- **Sequence:** Succeeds BlueBird 2 and precedes BlueBird 4.
- **Aliases:** SpaceMobile-003, BlueBird SM003, BlueBird Block 1 FM3.

## FAQs
### Q: When was BlueBird 3 launched?
A: BlueBird 3 was launched on September 12, 2024, at 08:52. It lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.

### Q: Who operates and manufactured BlueBird 3?
A: BlueBird 3 is operated and was manufactured by AST SpaceMobile, a company based in the United States.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch BlueBird 3?
A: The satellite was launched using a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, specifically utilizing booster B1078 for its 13th flight.

### Q: How much does BlueBird 3 weigh?
A: The satellite has a mass of approximately 1,500 kilograms.

## Why It Matters
BlueBird 3 represents a critical component of the AST SpaceMobile network, which aims to provide space-based cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard mobile phones. As part of the "BlueBird block 1" series, this satellite helps establish the infrastructure necessary for direct-to-device communication, bypassing the need for specialized user hardware ground stations in remote areas.

Weighing approximately 1,500 kilograms, BlueBird 3 is a substantial piece of orbital infrastructure. Its successful deployment into low Earth orbit (LEO) on September 12, 2024, validates the launch capabilities of the Falcon 9 Block 5 system for heavy telecommunications payloads. By operating as the third satellite in this initial block (preceded by BlueBird 2 and followed by BlueBird 4), it expands the coverage area and redundancy of the nascent network. The satellite's development and operation are entirely U.S.-based, highlighting the domestic industrial capacity for advanced satellite manufacturing in the commercial sector.

## Notable For
- **Part of Block 1 Series:** It is the third satellite (Flight Model 3) in the first series of operational communications satellites for the AST SpaceMobile network.
- **Heavy LEO Satellite:** With a mass of roughly 1,500 kg, it is a notably large satellite for a low Earth orbit communications constellation.
- **Direct-to-Mobile Objective:** As an AST SpaceMobile asset, it is designed to facilitate cellular broadband directly to unmodified phones.
- **Reusable Launch Integration:** It launched on the 13th flight of the Falcon 9 booster B1078, demonstrating the efficiency of reusable rocket technology.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
BlueBird 3 (also known as SpaceMobile-003 or BlueBird Block 1 FM3) is an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications. It is classified as a communications satellite and is the third entity in the BlueBird block 1 series. The satellite holds the international COSPAR ID 2024-163A and the SATCAT number 61045.

### Manufacturing and Operation
The satellite was manufactured and is operated by AST SpaceMobile. It originates from the United States, where it was constructed before shipment to the launch site.

### Mission and Launch
BlueBird 3 was delivered to orbit via a significant rocket launch event on September 12, 2024.
- **Launch Contractor:** SpaceX.
- **Vehicle:** Falcon 9 Block 5.
- **Booster:** B1078 (making its 13th flight).
- **Location:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.
- **Orbit:** The satellite was deployed into low Earth orbit.

### Physical Specifications
The satellite has a documented mass of approximately 1,500 kilograms. It is designed to operate in the harsh environment of low Earth orbit to relay communication signals.

## Schema Markup
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  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "BlueBird 3",
  "description": "An American communications satellite operated by AST SpaceMobile and launched on September 12, 2024, as part of the BlueBird block 1 series.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/bluebird-1.htm"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Communications Satellite"
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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/bluebird-1.htm)
2. [Source](https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7143)
3. Jonathan's Space Report