AST SpaceMobile Plots Its Own Rocket to Secure Space

Satellite builders are learning that renting rides to space comes with an expiration date. AST SpaceMobile announced it is developing a reusable rocket named Blacklift to launch its broadband spacecraft directly to low Earth orbit, targeting a first flight in 2028. Founder and CEO Abel Avellan framed the vehicle as a springboard for unconstrained access to orbit and favorable owner economics, moving the cellular broadband provider further into vertical integration.

Building a heavy launcher from scratch is notoriously difficult, but AST SpaceMobile plans to bypass traditional timelines by partnering with Firefly Aerospace for unproven engines. The company secured a deal for Firefly to provide Miranda and Vira engines for the first three flights before transitioning to internal manufacturing under a licensing agreement.

Ground tests on the booster engine have already logged thousands of seconds of firing time, providing a head start on a notoriously unforgiving development cycle. Our read is that this multibillion-dollar gamble is less about saving on launch manifests and more about survival in a changing sky. SpaceX plans to phase out current workhorses like the Falcon 9 as Starship matures, potentially creating a launch crunch where rival operators struggle for rides while SpaceX prioritizes its own massive constellation.

By investing heavily in Blacklift and committing to hundreds of millions in engine deals and licensing, AST SpaceMobile is buying insurance against a future where relying on external rockets means getting left on the pad.