New York, January 29, 2026, 20:55 EST — The market has closed.
- After a steep drop earlier in the session, ASTS climbed back near its highs thanks to late-day buying.
- Attention remains on AST’s BlueBird 7 launch set for late February and any changes to its timeline.
- Traders are balancing launch execution risk with fresh defense positioning and a packed 2026 schedule.
Shares of AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ended Thursday up 0.7%, closing at $122.09 after fluctuating between $113.40 and $123.52 during the session, according to market data. Trading volume hit roughly 13.3 million shares.
The stock’s moves are significant now because it serves as a high-beta proxy for “direct-to-device” satellite connectivity — the idea that regular phones can link directly to low-orbit satellites without extra gear. As the next launch milestone nears, even slight changes in confidence are triggering large swings in the tape.
Wednesday set the tone. AST SpaceMobile jumped roughly 8.9% in the previous session, extending a rally that’s attracted both momentum traders and long-only investors. 1
Last week, the company set the launch of BlueBird 7 for late February, aiming to hitch a ride on Blue Origin’s New Glenn-3 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. AST noted that BlueBird 7 is a twin of BlueBird 6, outfitted with a communications array spanning nearly 2,400 square feet. The design can handle peak data rates up to 120 Mbps. President Scott Wisniewski said the launch “moves us closer to delivering a new layer of cellular broadband connectivity.” 2
Defense has entered the picture. Earlier this month, AST secured a spot on the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD contract vehicle—an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity agreement that allows the government to issue task orders over time but doesn’t guarantee any revenue. AST’s Chief Commercial Officer Chris Ivory described the win as “a major validation” of the company’s “on-orbit, dual-use technology.” 3
This week’s amended Form 4 revealed AST Chief Operating Officer Shanti Gupta had overstated her direct share holdings by 50,000 shares due to an administrative slip. The filing also breaks down tax-related share withholding connected to the vesting of restricted stock units. 4
Legal news stirred things up late Thursday. Pomerantz LLP announced an investigation into claims from AST investors, referencing a Jan. 7 Scotiabank downgrade. The downgrade highlighted competition from SpaceX’s Starlink, slower adoption rates, and satellite launch delays. 5
The bigger risk for bulls is straightforward: launches get delayed, hardware falls short, or cash crunches push dilution. Even a government contract “slot” can fall flat if task orders never come through. With the stock already having run up, there’s barely any margin for execution missteps.
The schedule beyond the company looks cramped. Blue Origin aims to launch New Glenn again in late February, this time with AST’s payload. The plan calls for reusing a booster, a crucial test for the rocket program that could cause delays if problems arise. 6
Investors are eyeing AST’s next earnings report, which MarketBeat estimates will land on March 2, 2026. However, the company has yet to confirm the exact date. 7
Traders will be looking to see if ASTS can stay above the $120 mark following Thursday’s whipsaw. Attention also turns to any developments around the late-February BlueBird 7 launch window, which remains the next major catalyst on the calendar.
