Japan's government has selected a joint venture between Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile for its J-LEO satellite initiative, providing up to $1 billion in funding and pushing the program's value toward $2 billion with private matching. AST SpaceMobile is deploying its BlueBird constellation, with 13 satellites already in orbit and plans for about 45 by early 2027, aiming to offer direct-to-device cellular service from space. This move positions ASTS as a key player in satellite operating systems, distinct from SpaceX's Starlink, with strong industry partnerships and a solid financial base. Investors should watch ASTS closely as Japan moves from preliminary awards to signed contracts, signaling a potential shift in the satellite connectivity market.
AST SpaceMobile's stock rose 8.38% following the US government's public endorsement of its satellite partnership with Japan's Rakuten under a bilateral tech deal. The deal includes a potential $1 billion award from Japan's J-LEO initiative, which cou...
Morgan Stanley's bullish note on SpaceX, emphasizing undervaluation of its compute business, sparked a rally in the commercial space sector. SpaceX shares rose 2%, while AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab surged 8% and 5%, respectively, reflecting broade...
AST SpaceMobile's stock gained 3% following government support from the US and Japan for its partnership with Rakuten to develop Low Earth Orbit satellite infrastructure. This cooperation, along with a successful integration test with Canadian carrie...
SpaceX stock jumped 5% following Elon Musk's announcement renaming its AI unit from SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI, emphasizing 'super intelligence' over artificial intelligence. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas reiterated an Overweight rating with a $300 pri...
SpaceX's stock climbed 6% following a successful Falcon 9 rideshare mission deploying satellites for Unseenlabs, signaling strong demand for launch services. Rocket Lab outpaced SpaceX with a 7% gain, reflecting investor optimism about growing orbita...
