Shares of AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) rose more than 1% overnight Wednesday, closing at $59.27, even as investors searched for clarity on the next BlueBird satellite launch.
Despite the overnight gain, ASTS remains down roughly 1% for the week, reflecting lingering uncertainty around the company’s satellite deployment schedule.
Retail investors on Stocktwits largely held firm in their support for AST SpaceMobile, brushing aside concerns about delays to BlueBirds 14-16 and defending the company’s long-term trajectory.
Sentiment on Stocktwits remained bearish over the past week, with message volume falling 5%, though several vocal bulls pushed back against the negative mood surrounding the stock.
One bullish user dismissed the reaction to 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.”
Another user pointed to a factory video AST published earlier this month, arguing that frequent management updates are not the true measure of progress, writing: “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 investor highlighted AST’s position in direct-to-device markets across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, saying: “Yes, patience and long term thinking is needed as a 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 established a strong cadence earlier this year, with BlueBirds 8-10 launching on June 17 and BlueBirds 11-13 following 49 days later on August 5.
CEO Abel Avellan said in July that BlueBirds 14-16 were “right behind” the previous trio, and later said after the August 5 mission that they would “follow soon after” and that beta service was “around the corner.”
CFO Andy Johnson went further during the August earnings call, stating that BlueBirds 14-16 were “ready to ship shortly,” raising expectations that a launch announcement was imminent.
However, AST’s August update revealed that only BlueBird 14 was complete, while BlueBirds 15 and 16 were described as “nearing completion” and “not far behind as we move towards launch.”
The company has also shifted its full deployment timeline, with a July filing formally moving the target of 45 satellites in orbit from the end of 2026 to early 2027.
AST estimates it needs between 45 and 60 satellites to deliver continuous service across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and other key markets, while approximately 25 satellites could support non-continuous service.
Adding another layer of attention to ASTS, 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.
CTO Huiwen Yao proposed selling 40,000 shares worth about $2.36 million through B. Riley Securities, shares he acquired on August 19 through a cash-funded stock-option exercise under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on June 5.
COO Shanti Gupta proposed selling 12,000 shares through Fidelity, valued at $706,637, with those shares having vested on August 15 as compensation, and his filing does not identify a Rule 10b5-1 plan.
Together, the two proposed sales represent roughly 0.017% of AST’s nearly 299.8 million outstanding shares, limiting the broader dilution impact on existing investors.
Despite the near-term noise around launch timelines and insider filings, ASTS stock has climbed 47% over the past year, underscoring the market’s longer-term confidence in the company’s satellite broadband ambitions.
