AST SpaceMobile’s Next Launches Could Decide Whether Its Rally Regains Orbit

Summary

Midland, Texas-based AST SpaceMobile NASDAQ: ASTS has been a battleground for bulls and bears this year. Among space stocks, it has been one of the most volatile, seeing its fair share of ups and downs throughout 2026 including a 59% run-up to its all-time high on May 28 and a series of double-digit peaks and troughs mixed in. That trend has continued over the past month. Shares pushed up more than 35% from their one-month low June 25 through June 30. But since the calendar turned to July, the stock has given back nearly half of those gains, with ASTS now down more than 17% from that recent high.Get AST SpaceMobile alerts:Sign Up AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) Price Chart for Monday, July, 13, 2026 With its beta now up to 2.69, the SpaceX NASDAQ: SPCX rival and space-based direct-to-device (D2D) cellular broadband provider is likely positioned for more of the same as. But a combination of potential catalysts and inhibitors will ultimately decide whether AST SpaceMobile is able to break back into the green during the second half of the year. Tailwinds: Strategic Partnerships, Bundled BlueBird Launches, and Increased Operating EfficiencyAST SpaceMobile Today$69.90 -3.43 (-4.67%) As of 09:58 AM Eastern This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.52-Week Range$36.08▼$133.86Price Target$85.09 AST SpaceMobile’s bull case remains largely intact in large part due to maintaining its first-mover advantage in the space-based D2D market. That has resulted in a myriad of formal strategic agreements that have cemented the company’s status. Most recently, ASTS received a bump from Japan's $912 million satellite communications push. That put AST SpaceMobile’s existing partnership with Tokyo-based Rakuten OTCMKTS: RKUNY back into the spotlight while raising hopes for a major D2D rollout. The two companies are forming a joint venture that is targeting regulatory approval for D2D operations in Japan, with initial commercial services expected to begin later in 2026....