GoKawiilAST SpaceMobile announces plan to build own rocket, Blacklift, for 2028 debut
AST SpaceMobile, which builds large satellites for direct-to-cell service, announced it is developing a medium-lift rocket called Blacklift capable of carrying 20 metric tons to low-Earth orbit. CEO Abel Avellan said the vehicle would give the company unconstrained access to space, with commercial launches targeted for late 2028.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The move suggests satellite operators are struggling to secure reliable launch capacity on acceptable terms, pushing some to consider building their own rockets rather than depend on existing providers. It also points to a broader pattern analysts have flagged of capital flowing toward new medium-lift rocket startups amid what some in the industry describe as a tightening launch market, though a 2028 timeline for an entirely new rocket is widely viewed as extremely ambitious.
- AST SpaceMobile is building a 20-ton-capacity rocket called Blacklift, targeting commercial launches in late 2028.
- The company says the rocket will give it more reliable, cost-favorable access to orbit for its satellite constellation.
- Other firms, like Cowboy Space with its 'Big Iron' rocket, are making similarly ambitious medium-lift launch claims amid investor interest in the sector.
Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-11-06
Published there as: “You know the launch market is tough when satellite companies start building rockets”
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