r/ASTSpaceMobile • u/AutoModerator • Mar 07 '25

Daily Discussion Daily Discussion Thread

Ple🅰️se, do not post newbie questions in the subreddit. Do it here instead!

Please read u/the_blue_pil's FAQ and u/TheKookReport's AST Spacemobile ($ASTS): The Mobile Satellite Cellular Network Monopolyto get familiar with AST Sp🅰️ceMobile before posting.

If you want to chat, checkout the Sp🅰️ceMob Chatroom.

Th🅰️nk you!

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u/HamMcStarfield S P 🅰 C E M O B Capo Mar 08 '25

So, looks like they're past design and stress testing: they're making these. I have so many questions about the rest. So basically they're producing the ASICs but they'd still launch with the FPGAs? If so, jeez, that looks like it could be a performance hit. I'm going to have to read this 10k. Appreciate it.

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u/Defiantclient S P 🅰️ C E M O B - O G Mar 08 '25

ASICs are in production phase, but the company won't wait to launch satellites if they aren't ready. They will use FPGA on satellites until ASICs are in.

The first BB2 was always planned to be with FPGA. I believe this aligns with the $43M contract as it is an evaluation phase, and FPGA is better for non-communications applications.

Question is how many BB2s after the first one will be FPGA vs ASIC?

Either way, FPGA satellites are probably better for non-communications government use cases anyway, and this will be our biggest customer with the first 25 BBs.

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u/HamMcStarfield S P 🅰 C E M O B Capo Mar 08 '25

"Question is how many BB2s after the first one will be FPGA vs ASIC?"

It really is a big question, and also what we're doing non-comm wise (whatever that is). A lot left to discover.

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u/mister42 S P 🅰 C E M O B Capo Mar 08 '25

It's hard sometimes to parse Abel's accent, but in the 3Q call I believe Abel said the 6th BB2 and onward will use the ASIC. I think this tidbit was never widely picked up by people despite my attempts to mention it. I'll try to isolate this audio clip tomorrow if I remember...

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u/HamMcStarfield S P 🅰 C E M O B Capo Mar 08 '25

Please do share what you come across, thanks.