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Blue Origin's New Glenn puts BlueBird 7 in wrong orbit after upper‑stage glitch

scienceApr 19, 202616282

On April 19, 2026, Blue Origin launched New Glenn flight 3 from Cape Canaveral and deployed AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 into an off-nominal, lower-than-planned orbit after the rocket's second stage underperformed. Blue Origin successfully reused and recovered the New Glenn booster, marking the company's first landing of a reflown booster. AST SpaceMobile reported BlueBird 7 separated and powered on, and U.S. Space Force tracking data will determine whether controllers can maneuver the satellite to its intended operational orbit.

Key Highlights

New Glenn launched April 19, 2026, from Cape Canaveral carrying BlueBird 7.
Blue Origin recovered and reused New Glenn booster, its first reflown booster landing.
BlueBird 7 separated and powered on but reached a lower-than-planned orbit.
3 sources
reuters.comBlue Origin marks first landing of reused New Glenn rocket booster, ratcheting up SpaceX rivalryspace.comBlue Origin just launched the giant Bluebird 7 mobile phone satellite into space — but it's in the wrong orbitphys.orgBlue Origin reuses New Glenn booster for the first time in Florida launch

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