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AST SpaceMobile plans Blacklift rocket after struggling to secure launches
AST SpaceMobile, which is developing large satellites for direct-to-cell communications, says it will build its own medium-lift rocket, Blacklift, after struggling to secure launches. The move reflects growing pressure on satellite operators to book launch capacity years ahead, and could give the company more control over access to orbit and costs.
AST says Blacklift will carry 20 metric tons to low-Earth orbit and begin commercial launches in late 2028. That schedule is far quicker than the five to nine years typically taken by recent medium- or heavy-lift rocket projects; only United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan, among several announced since 2015, has reached orbit, after 8.7 years. AST says it has signed an agreement with Firefly to supply engines for the first three rockets and provide three years of engineering services.
In short
- AST SpaceMobile plans to develop its own rocket.
- Blacklift is designed to carry 20 metric tons to orbit.
- Its late 2028 launch target is highly ambitious.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Building Blacklift could give AST more reliable access to orbit, reduce dependence on scarce launch slots and let the company better coordinate rocket design with its satellite programme. If the schedule and costs prove achievable, the rocket could also create a new commercial launch option for other satellite operators facing similar capacity pressures.
The case against
Developing a medium-lift rocket is a major technical and financial undertaking, and AST’s proposed late-2028 start is much faster than the timelines of comparable projects. Diverting resources into launch vehicles could strain the company’s focus on its satellite service, while delays or cost overruns might leave it still needing to secure launches elsewhere.
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Originally published by Ars Technica as “You know the launch market is tough when satellite companies start building rockets”.