AST SpaceMobile to build reusable Blacklift rocket for satellite launches starting in late 2028
ASTS•AST SpaceMobile plans to build a reusable 20-ton Blacklift rocket using Firefly Aerospace engines, with launches starting in late 2028. The engine license will cost about $800 million upfront, while engines for the first three launches and three years of engineering support will cost another $500 million.
1. Rocket and engine costs
AST SpaceMobile plans to build Blacklift, a reusable 20-ton rocket designed to carry up to five BlueBird satellites into low Earth orbit per launch, starting in late 2028. The company will pay approximately $800 million upfront for a perpetual license to manufacture Firefly Aerospace’s Miranda and Vira engines: $400 million in cash and 10 million to 14 million shares of Class A common stock, with the share count determined by forward VWAP. Engines for the first three launches will cost $250 million, and engineering support will cost another $250 million over three years.
