AST SpaceMobile's Blacklift Rocket Targets 20-Ton Launch by 2028

AST SpaceMobile, the Texas-based satellite operator, said Friday it will develop its own rocket, named Blacklift, capable of lifting 20 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, with commercial launches targeted for late 2028, according to Ars Technica. A photo released with the announcement showed AST founder, chairman and chief executive Abel Avellan standing with Firefly Aerospace chief executive Jason Kim in front of Firefly's Miranda engine at Firefly's Rocket Ranch facility in Briggs, Texas, in the United States, Ars Technica reported.

Why is a satellite company building a rocket?

AST SpaceMobile builds large satellites for direct-to-cell communications and has struggled to book launch capacity, Ars Technica reported. "The Blacklift rocket is the springboard to significantly expand our total addressable market, providing AST SpaceMobile with regular unconstrained access to orbit and providing for most favorable owner's economics in the industry," Avellan said in a news release cited by the outlet.

How does the 2028 timeline compare with past rocket programs?

Ars Technica's Eric Berger called AST's schedule "wildly, fantastically, and stupidly optimistic." He noted that SpaceX, which announced its Falcon 9 program in 2005, holds the industry record for fastest development at 4.7 years — and SpaceX by then already had years of operating experience, an established engine line and an imminent first flight of its smaller Falcon 1 rocket. AST's timeline from Friday's announcement to a stated late-2028 commercial launch spans roughly two years.

What do the numbers show?

• 20 metric tons: Blacklift's stated payload capacity to low-Earth orbit, per AST SpaceMobile's release.
• 4.7 years: SpaceX's development time for Falcon 9, the fastest in the industry, according to Ars Technica.
• 2005: The year SpaceX announced Falcon 9 development.
• Late 2028: AST's targeted date for Blacklift's first commercial launch.

Is AST the only satellite firm building its own launcher?

No. Ars Technica reported that a company called Cowboy Space said in October it was building a large rocket named Big Iron to launch orbital data centers, also claiming a first flight in 2028. The outlet treated both timelines with skepticism, writing of Cowboy Space's claim, "Sure thing, y'all."

Why are satellite operators struggling to find launch capacity?

Ars Technica said the Blacklift announcement reflects two trends: satellite operators planning large constellations now need to lock in launch capacity years ahead, as Amazon did nearly half a decade ago, and investors — recognizing what the outlet has described as a worsening launch crunch — are now funding new entrants into the medium-lift launch market.

What to watch

• Whether AST SpaceMobile discloses a formal manufacturing or engine-supply role for Firefly Aerospace beyond the Rocket Ranch appearance.
• Whether Blacklift reaches a first test flight anywhere near the stated late-2028 window.
• Whether AST secures interim launch contracts with existing providers while Blacklift is developed.
• Whether Cowboy Space's Big Iron rocket advances past its October announcement.
• Whether additional satellite operators announce in-house launch programs as capacity constraints persist.