AST SpaceMobile 自研 Blacklift 火箭：20 吨级运力剑指 2028 年首飞

AST SpaceMobile decided the best way to offset future disruptions to its satellite launch plans would be to build its own rocket, which it hopes to let fly late in 2028. The company plans to slot the Blacklift rocket into a wider range of launch options rather than rely solely on the craft. It expects the vehicle to weigh 20-tonnes and be capable of carrying up to five BlueBird satellites per launch. AST SpaceMobile is sourcing Blacklift engines from Firefly Aerospace, which separately revealed the arrangement spans a three-year period, involves 36 units and is worth more than $1.3 billion in cash and shares. The arrangement involves a perpetual licence to use Firefly Aerospace’s engine designs and AST SpaceMobile plans to build a production facility in the US to make them. AST SpaceMobile founder, chair and CEO Abel Avellan ( pictured, right ) said Blacklift would deliver “regular unconstrained access to orbit” and contribute to some of the “most favourable owners’ economics in the industry”. The company stated achieving end-to-end vertical integration is a “long-held” goal. It’s engine deal covers 27 of Firefly Aerospace’s Miranda units and nine “vacuum-variant Vira” models. The aerospace company stated the Miranda model had completed more than 175 hot fire tests spanning in excess of 4,200 seconds. It completed “a flight-like test” at a 110% level of the engine, which produces 230,000lb/ft of thrust. AST SpaceMobile is likely to take heart in the statistics given the failure of a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket during a hot fire test appeared to scupper its satellite deployment targets for the year. The company still holds agreements with external launch companies covering more than 100 BlueBird satellites over 2027 and 2028. Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim ( pictured, left ) said the engine is the “hardest, highest-stakes” element in any rocket build. The post AST seeks launch boost with in-house rocket appeared first on Mobile World Live .