AST SpaceMobile Boasts $3.5 B Cash, Faces Rivals with NASA Veteran Advisor
ASTS•AST SpaceMobile holds roughly $3.5 billion in cash and projects 2026 revenue of $150–200 million, reflecting strong capital backing. A former NASA Deputy Administrator joining rival Starfighters Space’s advisory board underscores intensifying competition in hypersonic flight testing and space-launch services.
1. Starfighters Space Appoints NASA Veteran
Starfighters Space has formed a Strategic Advisory Board and named retired astronaut Frederick D. Gregory as its inaugural member. Gregory’s record includes more than 455 hours across three Space Shuttle missions, leadership roles as NASA Deputy and Acting Administrator, and hands-on experience with the F-104 Starfighter platform that underpins Starfighters’ Mach 2+ commercial fleet based at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
2. AST SpaceMobile's Financial Strength
AST SpaceMobile holds approximately $3.5 billion in cash and liquidity and has issued revenue guidance of $150–200 million for fiscal 2026. This robust financial position underscores its ability to fund satellite-broadband deployment, technology development and operational scaling without immediate external financing, differentiating it from smaller entrants in the space and hypersonic testing sectors.
3. Sector Spending Surge
Federal defense and space-testing budgets are expanding, with the House Armed Services Committee endorsing a roughly trillion-dollar baseline defense budget and the Pentagon increasing hypersonic flight-test throughput. Demand for rapid, high-speed flight environments and responsive launch platforms is rising, creating growth opportunities for both established players and specialized service providers.
4. Implications for AST SpaceMobile
The addition of a high-profile advisor to a direct competitor highlights intensifying competition for government and commercial space-testing contracts. AST SpaceMobile may face pressure to leverage its cash reserves and satellite-broadband expertise to secure long-term contracts, diversify its service offerings and maintain its market leadership in a capital-intensive industry.
