AST SpaceMobile announces new 'Blacklift' rocket, targets 2028 launch debut
AST SpaceMobile plans to launch its broadband satellites on a new rocket called Blacklift, which it will build in house and plans to start flying in 2028.
AST SpaceMobile, a Texas-based company, has announced plans to develop a new reusable rocket called Blacklift, with the goal of launching its broadband satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) by 2028. This launch is just 10 days after Cowboy Space unveiled its Big Iron rocket, also targeting a 2028 debut.
According to AST SpaceMobile's founder, chairman, and CEO Abel Avellan, the Blacklift rocket is a crucial step towards increasing the company's total addressable market and achieving the most favorable economics in the industry. Avellan emphasized that Blacklift will provide regular unconstrained access to orbit and enable global connectivity, extending services beyond terrestrial networks.
The company's BlueBird satellites, which beam internet service directly to cell phones, are currently composed of 13 units, including eight Block 2 variants. These satellites have been launched on various rockets, including SpaceX's Falcon 9, Blue Origin's New Glenn, and India's Launch Vehicle Mark-3. However, AST SpaceMobile aims to enhance vertical integration by developing Blacklift.
To facilitate this, AST SpaceMobile has signed a deal with Firefly Aerospace to provide engines and engineering services for the first three Blacklift launches. Firefly's engines, named Miranda (for the booster) and Vira (for the upper stage), have not yet been tested in flight. However, Miranda has undergone extensive ground testing, with over 4,200 seconds of firing time from 175 hot fires.
The Blacklift rocket is expected to have a lift capacity of 20 tons to LEO, allowing it to transport up to five BlueBird satellites per launch. This capacity is lower than that of SpaceX's Falcon 9, which can carry about 25 tons to LEO. Despite this, AST SpaceMobile has contracts to launch more than 100 BlueBird satellites between 2027 and 2028 using Blacklift.
As the launch landscape evolves with new rockets like Blacklift and Cowboy Space's Big Iron, SpaceX plans to phase out its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets after the Starship megarocket becomes operational. This shift could create a launch crunch for satellite operators, as SpaceX may prioritize its own Starlink V3 satellites and AI data centers.
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