Blue Origin has confirmed that its next New Glenn mission, NG‑3, will launch AST SpaceMobile’s next‑generation Block 2 BlueBird satellite into low-Earth orbit, with lift-off targeted for no earlier than late February from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The flight forms part of AST SpaceMobile’s broader deployment campaign for its space‑based cellular broadband network, for which the company selected New Glenn as a launch provider in November 2024. The BlueBird constellation is designed to support both commercial and Government applications by allowing standard mobile devices to transition seamlessly between terrestrial networks and satellite coverage.
Dave Limp, CEO, Blue Origin, said: “We are proud to have AST SpaceMobile as our customer on NG-3. Our customers need a reliable, cost-effective launch vehicle, and New Glenn is purpose-built to serve their needs.”
Re-usability strategyNG‑3 will mark the third flight of the New Glenn heavy‑lift vehicle and will re-use the same first‑stage booster that flew on the NG‑2 mission in November 2025, when it achieved the programme’s first successful sea‑platform landing on the recovery ship Jacklyn. The booster, named Never Tell Me The Odds, is currently being refurbished for its second orbital flight, an important demonstration of New Glenn’s re-usability strategy.
The Block 2 BlueBird satellite carried on NG‑3 is one of the largest direct‑to‑device communications spacecraft in development, featuring a phased‑array antenna system measuring approximately 2,400ft
2, significantly larger than the first‑generation BlueBird units already in orbit. These satellites are engineered to deliver broadband connectivity directly to conventional smartphones without specialised hardware, supporting continuous coverage across remote and underserved regions.
The NG‑3 mission underscores Blue Origin’s effort to accelerate launch cadence and operational maturity for New Glenn. Following its debut in January 2025 and its first booster recovery in late 2025, the company aims to demonstrate rapid reusability as part of its competitive positioning in the commercial and national‑security launch market.