Other Events ·
AST SpaceMobile agrees to build its own rocket and pay Firefly $800M for engine license
ASTSAST SpaceMobile, Inc.
AST SpaceMobile announced plans to construct a custom reusable 20-ton rocket named Blacklift, designed to deploy up to five BlueBird satellites per launch starting in late 2028. As part of the initiative, the company signed an agreement with Firefly Aerospace to acquire perpetual manufacturing licenses for Miranda and Vira engines and secure engine deliveries for its first three launches. The total upfront consideration is approximately $800 million, consisting of $400 million in cash and 10 to 14 million shares of Class A common stock determined by a forward VWAP calculation. Additionally, AST SpaceMobile will pay $500 million over time for engine deliveries and engineering support services. The company intends to manufacture the technology at a new U.S. facility while continuing to use external launch providers for satellites scheduled between 2027 and 2028. AST SpaceMobile builds the first global cellular broadband network in space accessible directly by standard mobile devices.