Why Was $ASTS Dead Silent at the Paris Conference?

<p>AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) went strangely quiet at the Paris satellite conference this week - Kook breaks down why, plus the Bluebird 11 mystery.</p><p><br></p><p>Kook opens with a candid look at retail sentiment hitting rock bottom, admitting he&#39;s been distracted by a personal stablecoin (USDe) investment while ASTS stock stays quiet. He dives deep into the Bluebird 11 satellite mystery, walking through TLE tracking data, mean motion comparisons to BW12 and BW13, and the theories around possible station-keeping testing.</p><p><br></p><p>The episode covers the surprisingly muted Paris Air Show appearance from AST SpaceMobile, founder Abel Avellan&#39;s hands-on leadership style, and why Kook remains skeptical of Viasat&#39;s Equatus JV and its prime-contractor approach. He also unpacks the sovereignty and defense trend accelerating across Europe and Asia, Michael Pollock&#39;s comments on U.S. Space Force interest, and fresh FCC approvals for international IMT and V-band spectrum.</p><p><br></p><p>Rounding out the discussion is a look at the Rocket Lab ATM&#39;s odd correlation with ASTS price action, a Wells Fargo forecast on Starlink subscriber growth, New Glenn&#39;s return to the pad, and why Kook believes AI data centers in space and direct-to-cell connectivity are two of the biggest long-term secular trends in the sector.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction and retail sentiment check</p><p>01:00 Kook&#39;s crypto distraction and stablecoin investing</p><p>04:00 Flashback to the May 2024 ASTS run</p><p>06:00 The oddly quiet Paris conference recap</p><p>08:38 Founder engagement: Abel Avellan&#39;s couch story</p><p>11:48 Bluebird 11 station-keeping theory and TLE data</p><p>14:10 Trusting management vs the Rocket Lab correlation</p><p>17:50 The one bar problem and gray area coverage</p><p>20:56 Viasat&#39;s Equatus JV and prime contractor risk</p><p>22:44 Sovereignty and Europe&#39;s defense rearmament</p><p>24:51 Michael Pollock&#39;s Paris comments on Space Force</p><p>28:44 Batch 3 satellites and launch tracking</p><p>30:56 The poker analogy: launch capacity and cargo backlog</p><p>31:47 AI data centers in space</p><p>35:28 FCC approvals and spectrum filings</p><p>36:02 Rocket Lab ATM and options expiry theory</p><p>38:53 SpaceX and Starlink subscriber growth forecast</p><p>41:02 New Glenn&#39;s return and the launch capacity race</p><p>43:40 Closing thoughts</p><p><br></p><p>🎙️ Catch all episodes on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u6rT