AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) shares climbed more than 1% overnight Wednesday, closing at $59.27, even as questions mounted over the delayed launch of BlueBirds 14-16.
Despite the modest gain, ASTS stock remains down approximately 1% for the week, reflecting broader uncertainty around the company’s satellite deployment timeline.
Sentiment on Stocktwits stayed bearish over the past week, with message volume declining 5%, though a vocal segment of retail investors pushed back against growing pessimism.
One bullish user dismissed concerns over what they called a “slight delay” affecting the next satellite batch, writing: “They never waited 6 months for BW3 with 0 news. Get a grip! This is the long game we’re playing.”
A second user argued that operational progress matters far more than communications frequency, saying: “Management does not need to give us daily updates. The story isn’t how often management tweets; the story is how many BlueBirds ultimately get into orbit, become operational, and start generating revenue.”
A third retail investor pointed to AST’s positioning across direct-to-device markets in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, writing: “Yes, patience and long term thinking is needed as an investor here.”
AST SpaceMobile has not formally announced a delay to BlueBirds 14-16, but investor concern stems from the absence of any shipment, Cape Canaveral arrival, or launch date announcement.
The company had demonstrated a strong cadence earlier this year, with BlueBirds 8-10 launching on June 17 and BlueBirds 11-13 following just 49 days later on August 5.
CEO Abel Avellan said in July that BlueBirds 14-16 were “right behind” the previous trio, and after the August 5 mission stated they would “follow soon after,” adding that beta service was “around the corner.”
CFO Andy Johnson went further during the August earnings call, saying BlueBirds 14-16 were “ready to ship shortly,” but AST’s August update revealed only BlueBird 14 was complete, with BlueBirds 15 and 16 described as “nearing completion” and “not far behind as we move towards launch.”
The deployment target has also shifted, with a July filing formally moving the goal of 45 satellites in orbit from the end of 2026 to early 2027, a timeline that had remained intact even after BlueBird 7 was placed into an unusably low orbit in April.
AST estimates it requires between 45 and 60 satellites to deliver continuous service across its key markets, while approximately 25 could support non-continuous coverage.
Separately, chief operating officer Shanti Gupta and chief technology officer Huiwen Yao filed notices covering a combined 52,000 shares valued at approximately $3.06 million.
Yao proposed selling 40,000 shares worth about $2.36 million through B. Riley Securities, acquired on August 19 through a cash-funded stock-option exercise, under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on June 5.
Gupta proposed selling 12,000 shares through Fidelity, valued at $706,637, representing shares that vested on August 15 as compensation, with no Rule 10b5-1 plan identified in his filing.
Together, the proposed sales represent approximately 0.017% of AST’s nearly 299.8 million outstanding shares, and the stock has risen 47% over the past year.
