First launch expected by end of 2028... AST SpaceMobile develops its own rocket

AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) said it will develop its own rocket, Blacklift, to launch its satellites, targeting a first flight in late 2028 with a design capable of carrying up to five BlueBird satellites to low Earth orbit in a single mission. The company describes Blacklift as a "20-ton rocket," though the announcement does not specify whether that figure refers to launch vehicle mass or payload capacity, and its specification page says the three-stage vehicle is designed to reuse its lower two stages. Firefly Aerospace ($FLY) will supply 36 engines for the first three Blacklift rockets. The move matters because it would give AST a dedicated, reusable launch path for scaling its direct-to-device satellite constellation rather than relying entirely on external providers. What to watch next is whether AST clarifies Blacklift's payload capacity and reusability targets, and whether the late-2028 debut holds as the company ramps BlueBird deployments.