AST SpaceMobile's $1.3B Blacklift Rocket Plan

Key takeaways

• AST SpaceMobile says it will develop a reusable, 20-ton rocket called Blacklift, with a first launch targeted for late 2028.

• Firefly Aerospace will supply 36 engines and engineering support in an agreement worth more than $1.3 billion; the payment includes cash and AST shares.

• The plan could give AST more control over launches for its satellite-to-phone network, but key rocket details and the development schedule remain unproven.

AST SpaceMobile announced the Blacklift project on November 6, 2026, alongside a multiyear engine and engineering agreement with Firefly Aerospace valued at more than $1.3 billion. The companies say the rocket is designed to carry as many as five BlueBird communications satellites per launch, with a first launch targeted for late 2028.

What did AST SpaceMobile and Firefly announce?

AST SpaceMobile plans to build its own 20-ton launch vehicle, named Blacklift, to carry its BlueBird satellites into low Earth orbit. The company says the rocket will be designed for reusability and will use Miranda and Vira engines supplied and licensed by Firefly.

The agreement covers the first three Blacklift rockets. Firefly says it will deliver 27 Miranda engines and nine vacuum-variant Vira engines, license the related intellectual property so AST can manufacture the engines, and provide engineering support over three years. Read the Firefly announcement and AST SpaceMobile's Blacklift announcement.

The headline figure needs context. AST's announcement breaks the more-than-$1.3 billion commitment into approximately $800 million in upfront license consideration—$400 million in cash and 10 million to 14 million shares, depending on a forward volume-weighted average price calculation—plus $250 million for the engines and $250 million for engineering services. It is not a $1.3 billion all-cash purchase.

AST says Blacklift could carry up to five BlueBird satellites per flight. It also says the rocket is intended to complement, not immediately replace, outside launch providers: the company reports agreements covering more than 100 BlueBird satellites for deployment during 2027 and 2028.

Why does AST want its own rocket?

Analysis: AST is trying to control more of the chain required to build a satellite-based mobile network. Owning the spacecraft is only part of the challenge. The company also needs dependable access to launch capacity, suitable schedules and a way to manage costs as it expands the constellation.

Using its own rocket could eventually reduce AST's exposure to other launch providers' schedules. It could also let the company coordinate satellite production and launches around its own deployment priorities. Reuters described the agreement as part of a broader push by satellite operators to secure access to space as launch providers increasingly reserve capacity for their own satellite networks.

That does not mean AST is abandoning external launch companies. Its own announcement says it still plans to use them, and the existing agreements cover more than 100 satellites over 2027 and 2028. Blacklift is a longer-term addition to that strategy.

The deal also matters to Firefly. The company says the contract will help it buy long-lead materials, expand testing facilities in Briggs, Texas, and hire more engineers and technicians. Firefly says its Miranda engine has completed more than 175 hot-fire tests totaling over 4,200 seconds. Those are company-reported ground-test results, not proof that the engine has already flown on an orbital rocket.

Big Zero has also covered the strategic investment behind Axon's stake in drone maker Skydio, another example of companies investing in specialized hardware and production capacity. The Blacklift agreement is different: it is a supply, licensing and engineering arrangement tied to a new launch vehicle.

What should satellite customers and investors watch?

For satellite users, the possible benefit is indirect. AST's stated goal is to provide cellular broadband directly to standard mobile phones. If Blacklift eventually works as planned, the company could gain another way to put its satellites into orbit. The announcement does not mean the service is available everywhere, nor does it establish when particular customers will receive coverage.

For investors and industry suppliers, the immediate questions are execution, funding and production capacity. The $1.3 billion-plus figure combines several kinds of consideration, including shares, and the project still depends on engineering work, manufacturing and a successful launch campaign.

A few practical points are worth tracking:

• The November 12 unveiling: AST says it plans to present Blacklift in New York City. More design details could clarify what the company intends to build.

• The engines' flight readiness: Firefly reports extensive Miranda ground testing, while Spaceflight Now notes that neither the Miranda nor Vira engine has yet made an orbital flight debut.

• The late-2028 target: The schedule is ambitious. Spaceflight Now points out that AST has not yet explained in detail how it will move from the public concept to a first launch on that timeline.

• The external launch backlog: AST says it still has agreements with outside providers for more than 100 satellites in 2027 and 2028. Those launches remain important while Blacklift is developed.

The company's next public disclosures—not the contract headline alone—will show whether the schedule, design and financing are becoming more concrete. For broader context on the infrastructure behind the AI and connectivity buildout, see Big Zero's report on Google's planned Wyoming data center.

What is still unknown?

AST has not published a complete technical specification for Blacklift. Spaceflight Now reports that important details, including the rocket's height, propellant tank dimensions and proposed launch site, were not included in the announcement.

The companies have described the rocket as reusable, but the announcement does not provide a demonstrated recovery and reuse system or a completed flight test. The late-2028 date is a target, not a confirmed launch booking. The precise manufacturing and qualification schedule for the engines and rocket also remains to be seen.

There is another distinction between the two engines. Firefly describes Miranda as having undergone extensive hot-fire testing. Spaceflight Now reports that Vira is still in development. Neither engine has yet flown on an orbital mission, so the project still has meaningful technical milestones ahead.

FAQ

What is AST SpaceMobile's Blacklift rocket?

Blacklift is AST SpaceMobile's planned 20-ton rocket for launching its BlueBird satellites into low Earth orbit. AST says it is designing the vehicle for reusability and for carrying up to five satellites per launch.

How much is the Firefly agreement worth?

The agreements are valued at more than $1.3 billion. AST's announced breakdown includes about $800 million in upfront license consideration, $250 million for engines and $250 million for engineering services; the upfront amount includes both cash and company shares.

When could Blacklift launch?

AST is targeting a first launch in late 2028. That is a company target, not a confirmed launch date, and important design and development details are still outstanding.

Will AST stop using SpaceX and other launch providers?

No. AST says it will continue using external launch providers and has agreements covering more than 100 BlueBird satellites for deployment in 2027 and 2028. Blacklift is intended to add an in-house option over the longer term.

Have the Firefly engines already flown in space?

Not on an orbital rocket, according to Spaceflight Now's reporting. Firefly has reported more than 175 Miranda hot-fire tests, while Vira remains in development; ground testing is not the same as a successful orbital flight.

Bottom line

AST SpaceMobile is committing substantial resources to gain more control over how its satellite network reaches orbit, while Firefly receives a major contract to supply engines and engineering support. The next useful checkpoint is the November 12 Blacklift unveiling: look for concrete design, manufacturing and schedule details rather than treating the late-2028 target as a guarantee.