By 
October 16th, 2022
Photo credit: AST Space Mobile
According to satellite watchers, the BlueWalker 3 is expected to unfold its giant antenna panel during this second half of this month – which began today. In doing so, that panel will become much brighter – a deployment that is stirring up ground-based astronomers.
There is a light curve of the magnitudes recorded so far of BlueWalker 3.
Chart courtesy: Anthony Mallama via Seesat-lThat spacecraft was lofted on September 10th and, according to AST Space Mobile, is a predecessor to planned commercial satellites called BlueBirds.
BlueWalker 3 is AST SpaceMobile’s prototype satellite and is designed to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices. The spacecraft has a 64-square meter phased array antenna designed for direct-to-cell connectivity.
Credit: Nokia Communications
Posted in Space News
Thank you for updates.
Maybe you can share ref about that article and from where did you learn about unfolding antenna event, it woudl be nice to read more about it.
Thank you in advance!
Martynas
My message is very simple.The satellite companies, including AST Space Mobile should paint or produce all their satellites matt black from now on. Failure to do will result in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Humanity loosing the night sky, perhaps forever. There is also the potential harm it may well cause to all life on Earth sooner or later. When Bluewalker 3 and about 150 brighter still ‘Bluebirds’ unfurl in orbit over our heads without matt black coating then only global insanity and global suffering can result. In such a case the IAU, as well as many other institutions, should take the satellite companies to court and to the United Nations with very good cases to present in both.
Hopefully the Sun will take care of us and produce a CME
powerful enough to destroy the Bluewalker satellites and
many other Elon Musk toys….DW