New York, Jan 28, 2026, 19:47 EST — After-hours
- AST SpaceMobile shares climbed roughly 9%, hitting $124.02 before settling near $121.23 in late trading.
- Traders remain focused on the late-February BlueBird 7 launch, viewing it as the next key near-term milestone.
- Several satellite analysts doubt the company can maintain its 2026 deployment pace, even factoring in the use of larger rockets.
AST SpaceMobile’s stock climbed roughly 9% to $121.23 in late Wednesday trading, continuing its strong rally that’s driven the satellite-to-smartphone firm to fresh highs. During the session, shares fluctuated between $111.65 and $124.02.
This move is crucial as AST aims to turn a series of technical achievements into a commercial schedule investors can back. “Direct-to-device” satellite service—connecting satellites directly to regular, unmodified phones—has become a competitive field, and AST’s upcoming launch date now serves as a key milestone.
AST revealed last week that its BlueBird 7 satellite is slated for a late February launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn-3 mission from Cape Canaveral. The company said this move supports its plan to deploy between 45 and 60 satellites by the end of 2026. “This launch advances our mission … as we progress towards launching commercial services in 2026,” president Scott Wisniewski remarked in a statement. Business Wire
William Blair stuck with its Market Perform rating following recent talks with AST executives, a note released Tuesday reveals. Management expects about 25 satellites to provide “intermittent” coverage across key markets. The note also mentioned AT&T plans to launch a beta satellite service linked to AST possibly as soon as the first half of 2026. Investing.com
Not everyone is convinced by the timeline. Light Reading, citing satellite analyst Tim Farrar of TMF Associates, said the aim of five launches by the end of Q1 and putting 45 to 60 satellites in orbit this year is “not happening.” Novaspace consultant Sumaiya Najarali described the target as “definitely ambitious.” The piece positioned AST as trying to catch up with SpaceX’s Starlink in the direct-to-device space. Light Reading
Separately, Pomerantz LLP announced Tuesday it’s probing claims on behalf of AST investors, referencing a Jan. 7 analyst downgrade that highlighted competition and execution risks.
Derivatives-linked moves appeared in Wednesday’s filings. A preliminary pricing supplement revealed UBS AG is marketing trigger autocallable contingent yield notes linked to AST SpaceMobile’s common stock, with maturities extending to 2029.
AST’s defense angle is adding weight to the bull case, even though it hasn’t translated into revenue yet. Earlier this month, the company secured a prime contract spot on the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD program. That position lets AST bid on upcoming task orders. Chris Ivory, the chief commercial officer, called it “a major validation” of the company’s “dual-use technology.” Business Wire
But the rally leaves little margin for error. Launch windows shift, rockets get reassigned, and “no earlier than” dates tend to stretch quickly. AST still faces the challenge of scaling manufacturing and attracting paying customers in a market where competitors are already up and running.
In the upcoming session and stretching into next week, all eyes will be on any updates regarding the late-February BlueBird 7 launch schedule. Traders will also be watching closely for AST to provide a more defined timeline for the remainder of 2026.
