The aerospace company Blue Origin announced the third mission using the New Glenn rocket.
The New Glenn rocket is a heavy launch vehicle with a multiple first stage. Her first flight took place in January 2025 year, within which the rocket successfully reached orbit, however, Blue Origin engineers failed to land her degree the first time. The second launch of New Glenn took place in November 2025 year. The entire mission cycle was successful and Blue Origin became the second company in history, which managed to plant a rocket stage.
22 January 2026 year, the aerospace company published information on the launch of the next New Glenn mission on its website, scheduled for the end of February 2026 year. The rocket should launch a six-ton Block communication satellite into space 2 AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird, which is developing the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to connect ordinary, unmodified smartphones directly to satellites. A key feature of the satellite is the antennas with an area of approx 220 m², that unfold, making the devices of this series the largest commercial satellites in low orbit.
Blue Origin wants to develop the reusable technology as soon as possible and establish regular flights of the New Glenn. This is the key to the implementation of ambitious plans, which involve the company's participation in the Artemis program and the deployment of satellite megaconstellations, like the recently announced TeraWave project.
Source: https://universemagazine.com