Space

AST SpaceMobile To Build New Blacklift Rocket

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 06/11/2026, 15:05:24 UTC.

Briefings

AST SpaceMobile announced the development of the Blacklift rocket, a 20-ton vehicle designed to launch its BlueBird D2D constellation to LEO. The company aims for a first flight in late 2028, though this timeline remains uncertain. The rocket will initially rely on external launch providers, with Firefly Aerospace supplying three engines under a $1.3B contract. Ownership of the engines shifts to AST SpaceMobile after three years, pending a new manufacturing facility. This move addresses concerns about commercial launch constraints as SpaceX's Starlink competes for satellite access.

Key points

• AST SpaceMobile is developing a 20-ton Blacklift rocket powered by Firefly Aerospace's Miranda and Vira engines.
• The company targets a first flight in late 2028, with a potential first flight date of late 2028.

Context

AST SpaceMobile is expanding its BlueBird D2D constellation to LEO using its own Blacklift rocket. This development addresses concerns about commercial launch constraints as SpaceX's Starlink competes for satellite access.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single announcement from November 2026. The first flight date is stated as late 2028, but no specific month or day is provided. The contract details are described as 'planned' and subject to future changes. The company's manufacturing facility status is not confirmed.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 06/11/2026, 15:15:12 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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