AST SpaceMobile to Build Reusable Blacklift Rocket for Satellite Launches Starting in Late 2028

By Public Technologies12:32 (UTC), 6 November 2026 Updated

AST SpaceMobile plans to build Blacklift, a reusable 20-ton rocket using Firefly Aerospace engines to deploy BlueBird satellites in low Earth orbit.
Blacklift is designed to carry up to five BlueBird satellites per launch starting in late 2028.
A perpetual license to manufacture Firefly’s Miranda and Vira engines will cost approximately $800 million upfront.
License consideration comprises $400 million in cash and 10 million to 14 million shares of Class A Common Stock, determined by forward VWAP.
Engines for the first three launches will cost $250 million; engineering support will cost another $250 million over three years.

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