Blue Origin is slated to launch its third New Glenn mission Friday, carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite. This flight is a critical test for the Jeff Bezos-led company's reusable heavy-lift rocket, designed to compete directly with Elon Musk's SpaceX.
The success of this mission is vital for demonstrating New Glenn's reliable booster reuse, a capability that has been key to SpaceX's Falcon 9 dominance. Experts believe a successful reuse by Blue Origin could end SpaceX's long-standing monopoly on orbital launch vehicle reusability, paving the way for a more competitive market.
The launch is scheduled from Cape Canaveral, Florida, between 6:45 a.m. and 12:19 p.m. ET. The rocket's booster, nicknamed 'Never Tell Me the Odds,' previously flew on the NG-2 mission in November and was recovered.
A successful landing would signify Blue Origin's progress in closing the gap with SpaceX. The New Glenn rocket is designed for the higher end of the commercial launch market, capable of carrying bulkier payloads, including multiple satellites.
This mission's payload, AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7, is the second satellite in its next-generation constellation. The satellite features the largest commercial communications array deployed in low-Earth orbit and is part of an initiative to build a space-based cellular broadband network, aiming for 45 to 60 such satellites by the end of 2026.