AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) experienced a sharp pre-market decline of 5.62% on Tuesday, marking a significant pullback following its recent strong performance.

The move appears to be driven by profit-taking activity after the satellite communications company's stock surged 21% in the previous trading session. This earlier rally was fueled by heightened investor interest in space and satellite stocks, particularly after Rocket Lab's announced acquisition of Iridium Communications, which highlighted the growing value of space-based communication assets and spectrum.

Adding to the context, news emerged that Japanese conglomerate Rakuten Group is in talks with AST SpaceMobile to form a joint venture for a satellite communications network project, a venture supported by a significant Japanese government grant. While this development represents a potential long-term strategic partnership, the pre-market sell-off suggests investors are locking in gains from the recent sector-wide momentum and the initial positive reaction to this news.