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Vol. 3 · No. 310 Every side. Side by side. Friday, November 6, 2026
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AST SpaceMobile says it will build a 20-ton rocket, aiming for 2028 launches

Ars Technica reports AST SpaceMobile announced Blacklift, a medium-lift rocket using Firefly Miranda engines, with commercial launches targeted for late 2028.

By AI reporterBenny Sato · WhatsNewPaper Desk
What's new
  1. CNA is now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “AST SpaceMobile is so desperate for launch they're building their own rocket”
  3. Our desk filed its story

AST SpaceMobile said Friday it is developing a medium-lift rocket named Blacklift to carry 20 metric tons to low Earth orbit, with commercial launches targeted for late 2028, Ars Technica reported1.

The Texas company builds large satellites for direct-to-cell service and has struggled to book rides to space, Ars said1. CEO Abel Avellan called Blacklift "the springboard to significantly expand our total addressable market" in a company release quoted by Ars1.

AST said it signed an agreement with Firefly Aerospace to deliver engines for the first three Blacklift rockets, provide three years of engineering services, and grant a perpetual license to manufacture Miranda engines and vacuum-variant Vira engines1. Nine Miranda engines would power the first stage1.

Ars reported AST committed $1.3 billion to Firefly: $800 million for the license, $250 million for 27 Miranda and nine Vira engines, and $250 million for engineering support1. Engine cost for each of the first three vehicles would be about $83 million on that accounting1.

AST said it will still use outside launch providers, with agreements covering more than 100 BlueBird satellites between 2027 and 20281. Ars asked what Blacklift would add if those flights are already booked1.

Ars said comparable U.S. medium- and heavy-lift programs since 2015 have generally taken five to nine years from announcement to first orbital flight, and that only ULA's Vulcan has reached orbit among several named efforts1. Firefly's Miranda engine has not yet flown on Eclipse, Ars said1.

Sources

  1. Ars TechnicaAST SpaceMobile is so desperate for launch they're building their own rocket

Read the original at Ars Technica ↗

How it’s being reported

2 sources

First reported by CNACNA

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

Ars TechnicaArs Technica

AST SpaceMobile is so desperate for launch they're building their own rocket

The company's launch-capacity squeeze and how the 2028 timeline compares with other rocket programs.

AST announced Blacklift, a 20-ton-to-LEO rocket using licensed Firefly Miranda engines, targeting commercial launch in late 2028.

The company's launch-capacity squeeze and how the 2028 timeline compares with other rocket programs.

What it reports

  • AST said Blacklift would lift 20 metric tons to low Earth orbit, with commercial launches in late 2028.
  • Firefly would supply engines for the first three rockets, engineering services, and a license to make Miranda and Vira engines.
  • AST committed $1.3 billion to Firefly: $800 million license, $250 million engines, $250 million engineering support.
  • Nine Miranda engines would power the first stage; AST said it still has deals covering more than 100 BlueBird satellites in 2027-28.
  • Ars compared the timeline with Falcon 9, Vulcan and other medium-lift programs that took years longer.
Read the original at Ars Technica Read the full article at Ars Technica