AST SpaceMobile plans new rocket using Firefly engines
Posted: Sat, Nov 7, 2026, 12:10 PM ET (1710 GMT)
AST SpaceMobile, whose deployment of a direct-to-device constellation has been slowed by launch vehicle issues, is taking matters into its own hands. The company announced Friday it will develop its own rocket, Blacklift, capable of carrying five of its BlueBird satellites per launch Blacklift will be powered by Miranda and Vira engines from Firefly Aerospace. The two companies announced a $1.3 billion agreement where Firefly will provide the engines for the first three Blacklift launches along with engineering support and a license to allow AST to produce its own engines for later flights. AST released few other details about the rocket other than it is planning a first launch as soon as late 2028 and that the rocket will be "designed for reusability."
AST SpaceMobile, whose deployment of a direct-to-device constellation has been slowed by launch vehicle issues, is taking matters into its own hands. The company announced Friday it will develop its own rocket, Blacklift, capable of carrying five of its BlueBird satellites per launch Blacklift will be powered by Miranda and Vira engines from Firefly Aerospace. The two companies announced a $1.3 billion agreement where Firefly will provide the engines for the first three Blacklift launches along with engineering support and a license to allow AST to produce its own engines for later flights. AST released few other details about the rocket other than it is planning a first launch as soon as late 2028 and that the rocket will be "designed for reusability."
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