AST SpaceMobile Plans Blacklift Rocket for BlueBird Satellites

AST SpaceMobile announced plans for Blacklift on November 6, 2026. The company intends the rocket to launch its BlueBird direct-to-device satellite constellation into low Earth orbit.

Key details

• The reported design has a 20-ton capacity and is intended to use Miranda and Vira engines from Firefly Aerospace.
• Firefly is reported to have agreed to supply 36 engines for the first three rockets and provide three years of engineering support under a $1.3 billion contract.
• AST SpaceMobile is reported to plan to obtain licenses to manufacture both engine types at a planned facility.

AST SpaceMobile is targeting late 2028 for Blacklift’s first flight.

Why it matters

The reported engine agreement combines hardware supply with engineering support for the first three vehicles. The planned manufacturing licenses would give AST SpaceMobile a route to produce both engine types at its own facility.