#ast-spacemobile

#ast-spacemobile

Shares of AST SpaceMobile ( NASDAQ:ASTS) are up 8% in midday trading on May 27, changing hands near $129. The satellite direct-to-cell name is leading a space-sector sympathy rally tied to SpaceX IPO buzz. The move extends an already torrid run. ASTS stock is up 78% year to date (YTD), making it the headline mover in a basket where Rocket Lab ( NASDAQ:RKLB | RKLB Price Prediction) and Virgin Galactic ( NYSE:SPCE) are riding the same halo trade.

Blue Origin said Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared the rocket to fly again after the upper stage failed to deliver a commercial payload during an April launch. Blue Origin didn't offer much detail, but said in a post on X that the New Glenn upper stage "experienced an off-nominal thermal condition" that caused one of the three rocket engines to produce lower-than-expected thrust. As a result, the AST SpaceMobile satellite that Blue Origin was supposed to put into orbit instead burned up in Earth's atmosphere instead.

Today marks an important step, as we continue scaling our network and moving closer to commercial service. We are accelerating deployment of our constellation, advancing integration with leading mobile network operators, and preparing to deliver seamless, space-based cellular broadband directly to everyday smartphones, bringing us closer to connecting people everywhere.

AST SpaceMobile has inked a new deal with Verizon to bring space-based cellular broadband across the United States, marking its most significant partnership to date and its latest move to capture a larger share of the emerging space-to-cellular market. Under the agreement, Verizon will integrate AST's satellite network with its terrestrial infrastructure, using Verizon's 850 MHz spectrum to extend coverage in remote areas where towers can't reach.

AST SpaceMobile is on a mission to build the first space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones for commercial and government applications.

AST SpaceMobile is set to enhance its direct-to-device satellite service by gaining more spectrum, which could significantly boost transmission speeds.