AST SpaceMobile shares rose about 7% on Friday, bucking a slightly softer tech tape in early afternoon trading. The stock was up $5.22 at $77.85, after ranging from $69.39 to $78.07.
The move puts fresh attention on execution risks and milestones for space-based “direct-to-device” connectivity — the push to link standard smartphones to satellites when ground networks are unavailable.
AST’s latest swing comes after the company’s BlueBird 6 satellite reached orbit late last month, a key step as it expands its low Earth orbit fleet — satellites operating relatively close to Earth compared with traditional geostationary systems.
In a Dec. 24 statement, AST said BlueBird 6 is designed to enable peak data rates of up to 120 megabits per second directly to standard, unmodified phones. “This launch validates years of U.S. innovation and American manufacturing, executed by our team and marks the transition to scaled deployment,” founder and CEO Abel Avellan said. Business Wire
The company said it remains on track to launch 45–60 satellites by the end of 2026, with launches planned every one or two months on average. AST also said it has agreements with over 50 mobile network operators, including partnerships with AT&T, Verizon and Vodafone. Business Wire
Broader U.S. markets were mixed. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF was little changed, while the Invesco QQQ ETF, a proxy for big-cap tech, slipped about 0.4%.
Other satellite-communications names traded higher, including Globalstar, Iridium Communications and ViaSat.
For AST investors, the near-term focus is on whether the company can commission BlueBird 6 and keep manufacturing and launch cadence on schedule, without surprises on funding needs.
The stock’s big daily moves have been amplified by its high sensitivity to execution headlines and risk appetite. AST’s shares have traded between $11.84 and $102.79 over the past 52 weeks, and the company’s market value is about $19.8 billion.
Short interest — shares borrowed and sold by investors betting the price will fall — remains a key watch item. AST’s short interest was 17.87% of float as of Dec. 15, according to Yahoo Finance.
Traders often track “days to cover,” a measure of how long it would take short sellers to buy back shares based on typical trading volume, because sharp rallies can force quick covering.
What comes next is less about today’s tape and more about updates on satellite performance, additional launches, and any shifts in the company’s timeline for scaling service and coverage.
