AST SpaceMobile Shares Drop 8% After Satellite Launch Failure
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 day ago
0mins
Should l Buy ASTS?
AST SpaceMobileis trading lower on Monday after Blue Origin's flagship New Glenn rocket failed to place one of its satellites into the intended orbit. During the New Glenn 3 mission, the BlueBird 7 satellite was deployed into a lower than planned orbit by the rocket's upper stage. The company said the altitude is too low for its on board thrusters to sustain operations, and the satellite will be de-orbited.While the satellite cost is expected to be covered by insurance, Clear Street told investors that it now anticipates delays to AST's 45 to 60 satellite target by year-end 2026.BLUEBIRD 7 DO DE-ORBIT:AST SpaceMobile addressed the orbital launch of BlueBird 7 on the New Glenn launch vehicle. During the New Glenn 3 mission, BlueBird 7 was placed into a lower than planned orbit by the upper stage of the launch vehicle. While the satellite separated from the launch vehicle and powered on, the altitude is too low to sustain operations with its on-board thruster technology and will de-orbited. The cost of the satellite is expected to be recovered under the company's insurance policy. BlueBird 7 would have been AST SpaceMobile's eighth deployed into low Earth orbit and is one of many planned for its space-based cellular broadband network. The company is currently in production through BlueBird 32, with BlueBird 8 to 10 expected to be ready to ship in approximately 30 days. The company continues to expect an orbital launch every one to two months on average during 2026, supported by agreements with multiple launch providers, and it continues to target approximately 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.DELAYS TO YEAR-END TARGET:Clear Street lowered the firm's price target on AST SpaceMobile to $115 from $137 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares after Blue Origin's New Glenn 3 mission experienced a second stage malfunction, resulting in AST's BlueBird 7 satellite being deployed into a lower-than-planned orbit. While the roughly $23M satellite cost is expected to be covered by insurance, the firm now anticipates delays to AST's 45 to 60 satellite target by year-end 2026.THE BEAT GOES ON:Following the events over the weekend, William Blair told investors that even though shares of AST SpaceMobile will likely be under pressure on Monday, "the beat goes on." The company gained experience integrating its satellite with New Glenn and working with the Blue Origin team. This experience will be integral for future missions, the firm argued. The silver lining, in William Blair's opinion, is that there was only one satellite on board, whereas future New Glenn launches may have as many as eight of AST's BlueBirds. AST expects to ship its next group of satellites in the next 30 days.The firm continues to believe that many of AST's mobile network operator partners will likely begin customer trials later this year when the company's network reaches approximately 25 satellites. William Blair has a Market Perform rating on the shares.PRICE ACTION:In morning trading, shares of AST have dropped about 8% to $78.64.
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Analyst Views on ASTS
Wall Street analysts forecast ASTS stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 81.000
Low
43.00
Averages
91.68
High
137.00
Current: 81.000
Low
43.00
Averages
91.68
High
137.00
About ASTS
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. is engaged in building a global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on its intellectual property (IP) and patent portfolio and designed for both commercial and government applications. The Company is engaged in designing and developing the constellation of BlueBird (BB) satellites and has planned space-based Cellular Broadband network distributed through a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Its SpaceMobile Service is being designed to provide high-speed cellular broadband services to end-users who are out of terrestrial cellular coverage using existing mobile devices. The Company intends to continue testing capabilities of the BW3 test satellite, including further testing with cellular service providers and the government. The Company has operations in India, Scotland, Spain, and Israel.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
FAA Orders Investigation into Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Failure
- Investigation Order: The FAA announced on Monday that it is ordering an investigation into the failure of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket's second stage, reflecting a strong emphasis on aerospace safety that could impact Blue Origin's future launch schedules.
- Launch Success but Mission Failure: Although the rocket launched successfully from Florida, it failed to deploy the AST SpaceMobile communications satellite into the correct orbit, leading to mission failure that may negatively affect customer trust and future contracts.
- Corrective Action Requirement: The FAA is requiring Blue Origin to conduct a mishap investigation and will approve the final report and any corrective actions before the company can resume flights, which will extend the timeline for flight resumption and impact its market competitiveness.
- Industry Implications: This incident may trigger widespread concern regarding the safety of commercial space launches, prompting other companies to enhance their safety reviews and emergency response mechanisms to prevent similar issues from occurring.
See More
AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 Delay Raises Concerns
- Market Outlook Analysis: AST SpaceMobile still possesses one of the boldest long-term narratives in the market; however, the delay of BlueBird 7 has raised investor concerns, particularly as the stock is already priced for significant success.
- Launch Cadence Impact: The cadence of launches is crucial for business rollout, and delays could affect the company's competitive position, especially in the rapidly evolving tech industry.
- Importance of Timing: The current timing is more critical than ever, and investors need to monitor the progress of BlueBird 7's launch to assess its potential impact on the company's future performance.
- Stock Price Reaction: Market prices as of April 7, 2026, indicate that investor expectations for AST SpaceMobile are already high, and any delays could lead to stock price volatility, affecting market confidence.
See More
AST SpaceMobile Faces BlueBird 7 Delay Challenges
- Market Outlook Analysis: AST SpaceMobile still possesses one of the boldest long-term narratives in the market; however, the delay of BlueBird 7 raises questions about its future development, especially as the stock price already reflects expectations of major success.
- Launch Cadence Impact: Changes in launch cadence could affect AST SpaceMobile's rollout plans, with delays potentially undermining investor confidence in its long-term profitability, thereby negatively impacting the stock price.
- Investment Advisory Warning: Although AST SpaceMobile is recommended by The Motley Fool, the analyst team highlights that there are currently 10 stocks deemed more valuable for investment, which could yield substantial returns in the coming years, suggesting investors should be cautious in their selections.
- Historical Return Comparison: Historically, stocks recommended by The Motley Fool, such as Netflix and Nvidia, achieved remarkable returns post-recommendation, reaching $524,786 and $1,236,406 respectively, underscoring the importance of selecting quality stocks.
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Blue Origin Engine Issue Causes Satellite Launch Failure
- Launch Failure Cause: Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp indicated that early mission data points to insufficient thrust from the BE-3U engine during the second GS2 burn, resulting in the BlueBird-7 satellite failing to reach its intended orbit, with an investigation underway under the Federal Aviation Administration to determine the cause and support a return to flight operations.
- Market Reaction: Although Bank of America labeled the launch outcome a 'negative shock,' it stated that this does not fundamentally change AST SpaceMobile's business; however, the failure could impact the company's revised target of deploying 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.
- Satellite Insurance Coverage: AST SpaceMobile confirmed that the BlueBird-7 satellite cost $23 million, which is expected to be recovered through its insurance policy, despite the satellite not joining its expanding space-to-smartphone broadband network.
- Retail Trader Sentiment: Despite ASTS stock dropping over 5% in the two days following the launch failure, retail sentiment on Stocktwits remains 'extremely bullish,' with message volumes surging over 440% in the past week, indicating investor confidence in a potential rebound.
See More
AST SpaceMobile's Satellite Launch Failure Affects Stock Price
- Satellite Launch Failure: AST's BlueBird 7 satellite was placed into a lower than planned orbit, impacting the company's space-based broadband network plans; while the satellite's cost will be recovered through insurance, this incident poses a negative shock to future satellite launches.
- Price Target Downgrade: Clear Street lowered its price target for AST SpaceMobile from $137 to $115 while maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating, indicating market concerns about the company's ability to meet its revised target of 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.
- Analyst Insights: BofA analyst noted that the failure of BlueBird 7 is a “negative shock” but does not fundamentally alter AST's business model, with anticipated delays in future launches potentially resulting in a shortfall of about 7 satellites.
- Retail Investor Sentiment: Despite the launch failure, retail sentiment around ASTS stock remained in ‘extremely bullish’ territory over the past 24 hours, reflecting investor confidence in the company's future, although some users blamed Blue Origin for the satellite deployment failure.
See More
Stock Markets Decline Amid Soaring Oil Prices and Geopolitical Tensions
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Markets: The S&P 500 index fell 0.24%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.01%, and the Nasdaq 100 index declined 0.31% on Monday as WTI crude prices surged over 6%, indicating market sensitivity to rising energy costs amid geopolitical tensions.
- Geopolitical Risks Escalate: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has raised market concerns, especially following U.S. Navy actions against Iranian tankers, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, further unsettling investor sentiment.
- Earnings Season Continues: So far, 81% of the 48 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings exceeded expectations, with Q1 earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year; however, excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, highlighting signs of economic weakness.
- Airline Stocks Under Pressure: Airline stocks retreated as rising oil prices weighed on profits, with American Airlines and Alaska Air both down over 4%, reflecting the direct impact of fuel costs on company earnings and potential downward revisions in future profit expectations.
See More
FAA Orders Investigation into Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Failure
- Investigation Order: The FAA announced on Monday that it is ordering an investigation into the failure of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket's second stage, reflecting a strong emphasis on aerospace safety that could impact Blue Origin's future launch schedules.
- Launch Success but Mission Failure: Although the rocket launched successfully from Florida, it failed to deploy the AST SpaceMobile communications satellite into the correct orbit, leading to mission failure that may negatively affect customer trust and future contracts.
- Corrective Action Requirement: The FAA is requiring Blue Origin to conduct a mishap investigation and will approve the final report and any corrective actions before the company can resume flights, which will extend the timeline for flight resumption and impact its market competitiveness.
- Industry Implications: This incident may trigger widespread concern regarding the safety of commercial space launches, prompting other companies to enhance their safety reviews and emergency response mechanisms to prevent similar issues from occurring.
See More
AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 Delay Raises Concerns
- Market Outlook Analysis: AST SpaceMobile still possesses one of the boldest long-term narratives in the market; however, the delay of BlueBird 7 has raised investor concerns, particularly as the stock is already priced for significant success.
- Launch Cadence Impact: The cadence of launches is crucial for business rollout, and delays could affect the company's competitive position, especially in the rapidly evolving tech industry.
- Importance of Timing: The current timing is more critical than ever, and investors need to monitor the progress of BlueBird 7's launch to assess its potential impact on the company's future performance.
- Stock Price Reaction: Market prices as of April 7, 2026, indicate that investor expectations for AST SpaceMobile are already high, and any delays could lead to stock price volatility, affecting market confidence.
See More
AST SpaceMobile Faces BlueBird 7 Delay Challenges
- Market Outlook Analysis: AST SpaceMobile still possesses one of the boldest long-term narratives in the market; however, the delay of BlueBird 7 raises questions about its future development, especially as the stock price already reflects expectations of major success.
- Launch Cadence Impact: Changes in launch cadence could affect AST SpaceMobile's rollout plans, with delays potentially undermining investor confidence in its long-term profitability, thereby negatively impacting the stock price.
- Investment Advisory Warning: Although AST SpaceMobile is recommended by The Motley Fool, the analyst team highlights that there are currently 10 stocks deemed more valuable for investment, which could yield substantial returns in the coming years, suggesting investors should be cautious in their selections.
- Historical Return Comparison: Historically, stocks recommended by The Motley Fool, such as Netflix and Nvidia, achieved remarkable returns post-recommendation, reaching $524,786 and $1,236,406 respectively, underscoring the importance of selecting quality stocks.
See More
Blue Origin Engine Issue Causes Satellite Launch Failure
- Launch Failure Cause: Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp indicated that early mission data points to insufficient thrust from the BE-3U engine during the second GS2 burn, resulting in the BlueBird-7 satellite failing to reach its intended orbit, with an investigation underway under the Federal Aviation Administration to determine the cause and support a return to flight operations.
- Market Reaction: Although Bank of America labeled the launch outcome a 'negative shock,' it stated that this does not fundamentally change AST SpaceMobile's business; however, the failure could impact the company's revised target of deploying 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.
- Satellite Insurance Coverage: AST SpaceMobile confirmed that the BlueBird-7 satellite cost $23 million, which is expected to be recovered through its insurance policy, despite the satellite not joining its expanding space-to-smartphone broadband network.
- Retail Trader Sentiment: Despite ASTS stock dropping over 5% in the two days following the launch failure, retail sentiment on Stocktwits remains 'extremely bullish,' with message volumes surging over 440% in the past week, indicating investor confidence in a potential rebound.
See More
AST SpaceMobile's Satellite Launch Failure Affects Stock Price
- Satellite Launch Failure: AST's BlueBird 7 satellite was placed into a lower than planned orbit, impacting the company's space-based broadband network plans; while the satellite's cost will be recovered through insurance, this incident poses a negative shock to future satellite launches.
- Price Target Downgrade: Clear Street lowered its price target for AST SpaceMobile from $137 to $115 while maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating, indicating market concerns about the company's ability to meet its revised target of 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.
- Analyst Insights: BofA analyst noted that the failure of BlueBird 7 is a “negative shock” but does not fundamentally alter AST's business model, with anticipated delays in future launches potentially resulting in a shortfall of about 7 satellites.
- Retail Investor Sentiment: Despite the launch failure, retail sentiment around ASTS stock remained in ‘extremely bullish’ territory over the past 24 hours, reflecting investor confidence in the company's future, although some users blamed Blue Origin for the satellite deployment failure.
See More
Stock Markets Decline Amid Soaring Oil Prices and Geopolitical Tensions
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Markets: The S&P 500 index fell 0.24%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.01%, and the Nasdaq 100 index declined 0.31% on Monday as WTI crude prices surged over 6%, indicating market sensitivity to rising energy costs amid geopolitical tensions.
- Geopolitical Risks Escalate: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has raised market concerns, especially following U.S. Navy actions against Iranian tankers, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, further unsettling investor sentiment.
- Earnings Season Continues: So far, 81% of the 48 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings exceeded expectations, with Q1 earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year; however, excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, highlighting signs of economic weakness.
- Airline Stocks Under Pressure: Airline stocks retreated as rising oil prices weighed on profits, with American Airlines and Alaska Air both down over 4%, reflecting the direct impact of fuel costs on company earnings and potential downward revisions in future profit expectations.
See More
