Blue Origin Plans Third Launch of New Glenn Rocket for AST SpaceMobile in February 2026
Blue Origin is set to launch its New Glenn rocket for the third time in February 2026, carrying a commercial communications satellite for AST SpaceMobile to low Earth orbit. This mission represents a shift from earlier plans to deploy the Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander and will utilize the first stage from the second New Glenn flight. The launch underscores Blue Origin's strategy to enter the satellite communications market, competing with companies like Starlink.
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Blue Origin will conduct the third launch of its New Glenn rocket at the end of February 2026, transporting a commercial communications satellite for AST SpaceMobile to low Earth orbit. This launch marks a shift from previous plans to send the Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander, which is still undergoing vacuum testing at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas.
The New Glenn, which has a height of 98 meters and weighs over 1,800 tons, is designed for regular cargo transport to orbit. The upcoming mission will reuse the first stage from the second New Glenn flight in November 2025.
This third launch follows over a decade of development and highlights Blue Origin's strategy to compete in the satellite communications market with AST SpaceMobile, a competitor to Starlink. February will also see other significant events in the U.S. space sector, including NASA's Artemis II mission.
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