AST SpaceMobile details a three-stage Blacklift rocket for late 2028

At a 12 November New York event, AST SpaceMobile described Blacklift as a composite three-stage rocket for its own BlueBird satellites, with a reusable first stage, a 20-ton capacity, room for five satellites, and a first flight planned for late 2028. The event video said the first stage uses nine Miranda engines, with two Vira engines on the second stage and one on the third; SpaceNews, reporting the same event, said seven first-stage engines. Abel Avellan said the company is taking 36 engines from Firefly and named the former Antares site at Wallops, while the Virginia Spaceport Authority told SpaceNews that talks are preliminary and do not include Pad 0-A.