Blue Origin's New Glenn Set for Third Launch with Reused Booster
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is scheduled for its third launch on April 19, 2026, aiming to deploy AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite and reuse a first-stage booster for the first time.
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is scheduled for its third launch on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch window is set between 6:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. EDT. This mission, designated NG-3, will carry AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite into low Earth orbit. The BlueBird 7 satellite features a communication array measuring approximately 2,400 square feet, making it one of the largest satellites ever deployed commercially in low Earth orbit. This launch marks the first reuse of a New Glenn first-stage booster, previously flown during the NG-2 mission in November 2025. The booster, nicknamed "Never Tell Me the Odds," underwent refurbishment, including the replacement of all seven BE-4 engines. A successful 19-second static fire test of the rocket's engines was conducted on April 16, 2026, confirming the vehicle's readiness for flight. Blue Origin will provide live coverage of the launch starting approximately 30 minutes before liftoff on its website.