AST SpaceMobile plans its own rocket with a $1.3B Firefly engine deal
AST SpaceMobile will pay about $800M upfront in cash and stock for Firefly's engine license, plus $500M for engines and support for three rockets.
By Ryan Merket · Published
Primary source: Reuters
Why it matters
The deal shows how far satellite operators will go to control launch access when constellation deployment depends on scarce rockets. AST is spending heavily to buy propulsion rather than spend five to ten years developing it, while Firefly gets customer funding to expand engine and rocket production before Blacklift flies.
Abel Avellan has spent nine years trying to put a cellular network in orbit. On November 6th, the AST SpaceMobile founder, chairman and CEO decided AST should own the rocket that carries it there, too.…
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