Latest news with #BlueBirds
New York Post
08-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Blue Jays vs. Twins prediction: MLB picks, best bets Sunday
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The Blue Birds play the Twinkies in Minnesota. Toronto's Bowden Francis was gone faster than President Trump's Tesla after he was shelled for six runs in just 1 ²/₃ innings by the Phillies in his most recent outing on June 3. The Twins' Joe Ryan has won two in a row, but the mighty Athletics scored four runs over five frames in his most recent start. We will take Ryan and the Twins for $50. Bowden Francis AP Pitchers' duel in St. Louis. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Erick Fedde survived the duel. We got shot in the foot. Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting Yamamoto pitched six scoreless innings. Fedde threw 5 ¹/₃ innings. The Dodgers scored a run off Ryan Helsley. The Cardinals scored two off Ben Casparius and beat L.A. Final 2-1. Nolan Arenado with the walk-off hit. Heavy loss takes us to -352 birdstones. Too bad Baeza didn't come through in the Belmont Stakes. Why Trust New York Post Betting The one and only Stitches has been handicapping baseball, daily, for the Post since 2019. Miraculously, he has finished in the black twice. But wait there's more. He showed his versatility by winning the Post's NFL Best Bet crown last year.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starlink Rival AST SpaceMobile Wants to Launch 243 Giant Satellites by 2028
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. As it seeks to compete with SpaceX's cellular Starlink service, AST SpaceMobile has an ambitious goal—launch 243 more satellites by 2028. AST mentioned the goal in an FCC filing as it tries to secure regulatory clearance to operate the FM1, a prototype satellite slated to launch from India in July. The FM1 is the company's first stab at a second-generation BlueBird satellite, which is designed to beam cellular connectivity to phones on the ground. In March, AST filed for experimental authority with the FCC to start tests with the prototype satellite. On Monday, it provided more details after the FCC told AST its original application was 'incomplete.' One of the new documents shows that AST envisions launching 243 second-generation BlueBirds from now until 2028. Each satellite is designed to operate for up to seven years before it's de-orbited and set on a path to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. The satellites are huge, with a communication antenna spanning 223 square meters. That's about three times larger than AST's first-gen BlueBird satellites, five of which are currently in orbit. The document adds that FM1 has a mass of 5,830 kilograms (nearly 13,000 pounds) — or about 10 times the mass of a V2 Mini Optimized satellite for Starlink. However, future iterations of the second-generation BlueBird satellites will be smaller at 4,210 kilograms, thanks to the 'use of composite material,' the document says. The second-generation BlueBirds have been designed to deploy at about 520 kilometers (323 miles) in altitude before elevating themselves to 700km. The goal of launching 243 more satellites by 2028 is certainly ambitious, but it will be easier said than done. AST plans to use SpaceX's Falcon 9 to launch next-generation BlueBirds and Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. The latter only just conducted its maiden flight in January; the rocket successfully reached orbit, but the first-stage booster botched its landing. The new FCC filing also mentions an FM2 satellite, suggesting the company is preparing another prototype BlueBird. As a result, satellite industry analyst Tim Farrar said: "Looks like the start of a satellite redesign and extended delay." The other issue is that AST still needs FCC clearance to launch and commercially operate its satellite constellation for use in the US. So far, the FCC has deferred on the company's original request to operate an additional 243 satellites. AST has yet to file a follow-up application. AST submitted the documents to the FCC after SpaceX criticized the company's initial proposal for the FM1 satellite, including its plans to prevent the craft from posing a hazard in Earth's orbit. In response, AST submitted a new 'orbit debris assessment report,' which maintains that the company's FM1 and future satellites comply with orbital safety regulations. Despite the new filing, the FCC sent an email to AST on Tuesday, demanding that it resolve several lingering questions and possible inaccuracies and errors in the documentation. Although AST wants to launch 248 satellites, the company has said it only needs 45 to 60 BlueBirds in orbit to start offering continuous satellite connectivity to partners, including AT&T and Verizon.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AST SpaceMobile Is Go for Launch -- but Cash Burn Could Be a Problem
AST SpaceMobile's (NASDAQ: ASTS) stock took a big bounce after the company reported fourth-quarter results last week. At one point, shares of the satellite communications start-up were up 32% from their pre-earnings price, and even after Monday's steep price decline, they're still higher than they were before the report came out. So that means the news was good, right? Revenues rising nicely, earnings ahead of analysts' forecasts, and so on? Well, not exactly. Ahead of the report, analysts had been forecasting that AST would say it had lost $0.18 per share in Q4 on revenue of $2.4 million. AST did in fact lose $0.18 per share, but its revenue was only $1.9 million. For the year, the company missed on both top and bottom lines, losing $1.94 per share on $4.4 million in revenue. So far, so bad. To be honest, though, earnings (or losses) aren't too significant for AST SpaceMobile right now. The company only has five comsats in orbit, and it hasn't yet received the go-ahead from the Federal Communications Commission to begin beta testing its direct-to-cell (DTC) communications service. That means any revenue the company might report today will be de minimis at best. It also means AST has essentially no chance of earning profits anytime soon. In other words, if AST lost a bit more money than expected in 2024, that isn't necessarily a deal-breaker when it comes to the investment thesis. Much more important will be how quickly the company can build out its constellation, so it can begin beta testing, begin selling DTC cell service via partners, and begin booking some real revenue. And there's good news on that front. "The many pieces of our plan are rapidly coming into place," said AST CEO Abel Avellan in the Q4 release. For example, all five of the company's original BlueBird commercial satellites are now operational, and it's taking steps to put more satellites in orbit shortly. Already, AST says it has 40 Block 2 BlueBirds in production, each more than three times the size of the five BlueBirds already up there. The company also said it's buying parts for at least 10 more satellites beyond that. And AST has contracted with launch providers SpaceX, Blue Origin, and India's ISRO to launch a total of 60 satellites in 2025 and 2026. Admittedly, it's unclear why these three sets of numbers don't quite line up -- why, for example, has it contracted to launch 20 more satellites than it currently has in production? One might surmise though, that AST is putting together whichever of the "many pieces of [its] plan," it can get a hold of, as fast as it can secure them, all in anticipation they'll fit together right in the end. If nothing else, this speaks to management's clear intention to keep going big on its project, and to build out its capacity as quickly as possible without worrying that something might derail its plan. In furtherance of that plan, AST has secured agreements with 50 mobile network operators that serve nearly 3 billion subscribers total in more than 20 countries. If there was just one detail I wish AST had addressed a bit better in its report, it would be how much of the above is already paid for, and how much more AST will have to spend. On the post-earnings conference call with analysts and investors, AST management said that, between cash on hand and the proceeds from its recent $460 million, 7-year convertible debt offering, AST now has nearly $1 billion in cash on its balance sheet. Management asserted that this would be enough cash to keep it going for the next 12 months, and more specifically said it is "well positioned" to pay for the construction and launch of its "first threshold of 25 satellites." Finally, management noted it expects to receive $43 million in revenue this year from the U.S. Space Force for a project it's working on for that agency. Between that contract and commercial revenue from its telecom partners, management expects to be free-cash-flow positive once it has 25 BlueBirds in orbit. Again, all of this sounds great. Investors are probably glad to hear that after multiple rounds of dilutive secondary stock offerings and convertible debt issuance, AST is now in a position where it won't need to dilute them anymore in 2025. Still, analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence believe AST SpaceMobile will need to lay out nearly $1.1 billion in total capital expenditures over the next couple of years. So $1 billion may cover AST through 2025, but if it doesn't start making some money soon, it will almost certainly need to raise more cash in 2026. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $315,521!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $40,476!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $495,070!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of March 14, 2025 Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. AST SpaceMobile Is Go for Launch -- but Cash Burn Could Be a Problem was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Globe and Mail
16-03-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
AST SpaceMobile Is Go for Launch -- but Cash Burn Could Be a Problem
AST SpaceMobile 's (NASDAQ: ASTS) stock took a big bounce after the company reported fourth-quarter results last week. At one point, shares of the satellite communications start-up were up 32% from their pre-earnings price, and even after Monday's steep price decline, they're still higher than they were before the report came out. So that means the news was good, right? Revenues rising nicely, earnings ahead of analysts' forecasts, and so on? Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » Well, not exactly. At this point, the bottom line doesn't matter Ahead of the report, analysts had been forecasting that AST would say it had lost $0.18 per share in Q4 on revenue of $2.4 million. AST did in fact lose $0.18 per share, but its revenue was only $1.9 million. For the year, the company missed on both top and bottom lines, losing $1.94 per share on $4.4 million in revenue. So far, so bad. To be honest, though, earnings (or losses) aren't too significant for AST SpaceMobile right now. The company only has five comsats in orbit, and it hasn't yet received the go-ahead from the Federal Communications Commission to begin beta testing its direct-to-cell (DTC) communications service. That means any revenue the company might report today will be de minimis at best. It also means AST has essentially no chance of earning profits anytime soon. In other words, if AST lost a bit more money than expected in 2024, that isn't necessarily a deal-breaker when it comes to the investment thesis. Much more important will be how quickly the company can build out its constellation, so it can begin beta testing, begin selling DTC cell service via partners, and begin booking some real revenue. And there's good news on that front. AST's BlueBirds of happiness "The many pieces of our plan are rapidly coming into place," said AST CEO Abel Avellan in the Q4 release. For example, all five of the company's original BlueBird commercial satellites are now operational, and it's taking steps to put more satellites in orbit shortly. Already, AST says it has 40 Block 2 BlueBirds in production, each more than three times the size of the five BlueBirds already up there. The company also said it's buying parts for at least 10 more satellites beyond that. And AST has contracted with launch providers SpaceX, Blue Origin, and India's ISRO to launch a total of 60 satellites in 2025 and 2026. Admittedly, it's unclear why these three sets of numbers don't quite line up -- why, for example, has it contracted to launch 20 more satellites than it currently has in production? One might surmise though, that AST is putting together whichever of the "many pieces of [its] plan," it can get a hold of, as fast as it can secure them, all in anticipation they'll fit together right in the end. If nothing else, this speaks to management's clear intention to keep going big on its project, and to build out its capacity as quickly as possible without worrying that something might derail its plan. In furtherance of that plan, AST has secured agreements with 50 mobile network operators that serve nearly 3 billion subscribers total in more than 20 countries. What could derail AST's plans If there was just one detail I wish AST had addressed a bit better in its report, it would be how much of the above is already paid for, and how much more AST will have to spend. On the post-earnings conference call with analysts and investors, AST management said that, between cash on hand and the proceeds from its recent $460 million, 7-year convertible debt offering, AST now has nearly $1 billion in cash on its balance sheet. Management asserted that this would be enough cash to keep it going for the next 12 months, and more specifically said it is "well positioned" to pay for the construction and launch of its "first threshold of 25 satellites." Finally, management noted it expects to receive $43 million in revenue this year from the U.S. Space Force for a project it's working on for that agency. Between that contract and commercial revenue from its telecom partners, management expects to be free-cash-flow positive once it has 25 BlueBirds in orbit. Again, all of this sounds great. Investors are probably glad to hear that after multiple rounds of dilutive secondary stock offerings and convertible debt issuance, AST is now in a position where it won't need to dilute them anymore in 2025. Still, analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence believe AST SpaceMobile will need to lay out nearly $1.1 billion in total capital expenditures over the next couple of years. So $1 billion may cover AST through 2025, but if it doesn't start making some money soon, it will almost certainly need to raise more cash in 2026. Don't miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $315,521!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $40,476!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $495,070!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Continue » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 14, 2025
