Blue Origin Preps New Glenn Rocket for Third Mission

The reusable booster will carry a satellite for AST SpaceMobile to low Earth orbit.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:36pm

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A vibrant abstract painting featuring sweeping arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals in shades of blue, green, and orange, conceptually representing the complex forces and geometry involved in a rocket launch.Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket prepares for its third mission, showcasing the company's advancements in reusable launch technology.Cape Canaveral Today

Blue Origin is targeting as early as Sunday morning to launch the third mission of its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The two-hour launch window opens at 6:45 a.m. and the mission will carry a satellite for AST SpaceMobile to low Earth orbit. This launch will feature the return of New Glenn's first-stage booster, Never Tell Me The Odds, which successfully launched and landed on the program's second mission last November.

Why it matters

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is a key part of the company's plans to develop reusable launch vehicles and expand access to space. This third mission represents another step forward in the rocket's development and testing, as the company works to make spaceflight more affordable and accessible.

The details

The New Glenn rocket stands over 300 feet tall and is designed to be reusable, with the first-stage booster returning to Earth for landing after launch. For this mission, the booster named Never Tell Me The Odds will make its second flight, demonstrating the rocket's reusability. The payload for this launch is a satellite for AST SpaceMobile, a company working to build a global cellular broadband network using satellites in low Earth orbit.

  • The two-hour launch window opens at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 20, 2026.
  • The New Glenn rocket's second mission, which featured the return of the Never Tell Me The Odds booster, took place in November 2025.

The players

Blue Origin

An American privately funded aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company founded by Jeff Bezos.

New Glenn

Blue Origin's heavy-lift launch vehicle, designed to be reusable and capable of carrying payloads to low Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, and beyond.

AST SpaceMobile

A company working to build a global cellular broadband network using satellites in low Earth orbit.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to launch the third mission of our New Glenn rocket and continue demonstrating its capabilities.”

— Bob Smith, CEO, Blue Origin

What’s next

If the launch is successful, the New Glenn booster will attempt to land back on Earth for potential reuse in a future mission.

The takeaway

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is a key part of the company's efforts to make spaceflight more accessible and affordable through the development of reusable launch vehicles. This third mission represents another important milestone in the rocket's testing and development.