AST SpaceMobile Unveils Blacklift Rocket to Break Orbital Launch Crunch
To ensure reliable deployment of its BlueBird constellation, AST SpaceMobile has announced Blacklift, a custom 20-ton launch vehicle slated for 2028.
Strategic Orbital Access
In response to a tightening global launch market, AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) has announced the development of Blacklift, a dedicated 20-ton rocket designed to deploy its BlueBird direct-to-device (D2D) satcom constellation. According to Payload, this move aims to provide the company with unconstrained access to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) while optimizing internal economics.
Propulsion and Partnership
AST SpaceMobile will not develop the engine hardware from scratch. The company has entered a $1.3 billion agreement with Firefly Aerospace to secure 36 engines—specifically the Miranda and Vira models—for the first three launch vehicles.
Key terms of the partnership include:
Engineering Support: Firefly will provide three years of technical assistance.
IP Licensing: Following the initial phase, AST SpaceMobile intends to license the engine technology for in-house production at a new manufacturing facility.
The Vertical Integration Race
With SpaceX’s Starlink benefiting from internal Falcon 9 and Starship launch capabilities, Blacklift represents a bid for parity. As the availability of commercial Falcon 9 flights potentially diminishes, owning the launch vehicle becomes a critical survival metric for broadband constellations.
Targeting a maiden flight in late 2028, the timeline is aggressive. Until Blacklift achieves flight readiness, AST SpaceMobile remains reliant on third-party providers. CEO Abel Avellan positions the vehicle as a "springboard" to expand the company’s total addressable market, securing a proprietary pipeline to orbit that avoids the current industry-wide "launch crunch."