AST SpaceMobile, a company specializing in the development of a direct-to-device cellular broadband satellite network, revealed details of its project to develop its own launch vehicle named Blacklift during a special event held in New York. This move aims to secure the company's launch needs amid limited capacity in the current market.
Abel Avellan, the company's CEO, explained that the goal of this project is not to enter the launch services sector as a commercial provider, but rather to meet the massive demand for launching the company's BlueBird satellites, which have suffered from continuous delays in booking launch slots. The rocket's payload capacity is planned to reach 20 tons to low Earth orbit, with the ability to carry up to five satellites at a time and a rate of two flights per month for the company's exclusive use.
Technical Details and Design Challenges
The company adopted an unconventional approach in designing the rocket by making it a three-stage vehicle, utilizing Miranda engines and Vira engines developed by Firefly Aerospace, alongside complete reliance on carbon fiber composite materials to reduce the rocket's dry mass by 40% compared to metal structures.
The company is banking on its partnership with Firefly to purchase off-the-shelf engines and subsystems to bypass the lengthy research and development phase that typically takes startup rocket companies many years, while setting an ambitious target date for the first flight in late 2028.
What Triggers Controversy Regarding the Timeline and Launch Pad?
Despite management's confidence, the project faces widespread skepticism from space industry experts, particularly regarding the challenges associated with using composite fuel tanks, a hurdle recently experienced by other companies in the sector such as Rocket Lab.
In addition, a discrepancy has emerged regarding the rocket's launch site; while company statements indicated reliance on the historic launch pad on Wallops Island, Virginia, which is currently being upgraded to support Firefly vehicles, Virginia space authorities confirmed that talks with the company are still in early stages and do not involve the aforementioned pad (Pad 0-A), leaving other costly options such as refurbishing an alternative pad or building a new one.