Shares of AST SpaceMobile Inc. ($ASTS) have experienced intense short selling activity, with the borrow rate rising sharply to nearly 8% from below 1% within ten days. Despite the heavy short interest, the stock has shown resilience, recently trading around $24. Market participants note the presence of a strong bullish pattern, described as the "biggest bull flag in history," suggesting potential for a significant upward move later in the year. Additionally, a notable options trade occurred with the purchase of 500 June 20th $27.50 call contracts, representing over $55,000 in premium, indicating some investors anticipate a price increase. Commentary also highlights skepticism about the short thesis given ASTS's growth potential and compares it to other pre-revenue nuclear and space-related stocks, which have seen mixed reactions to recent announcements. Overall, the market sentiment around ASTS reflects a tension between heavy short positioning and bullish expectations for future gains.