Blue Origin is targeting liftoff today for the third flight of its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The NG-3 mission will carry AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite, a key addition to the company’s expanding constellation aimed at delivering direct-to-cell broadband connectivity from space. This marks the first reuse of a New Glenn first-stage booster, representing a significant step in Blue Origin’s reusability program.
Table of Contents
Mission Specifications
- Vehicle: New Glenn (Booster GS1-SN002 on its second flight)
- Payload: BlueBird 7 (Block 2 FM2) – featuring a large 223 m² phased-array antenna
- Launch Window: 6:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. EDT (10:45 – 12:45 UTC)
- Target Time: Approximately 7:25 a.m. EDT
- Recovery Attempt: First-stage booster landing on the droneship Jacklyn in the Atlantic Ocean
The BlueBird 7 satellite is designed to provide substantially higher capacity than previous Block 1 satellites, advancing AST SpaceMobile’s goal of enabling seamless cellular coverage directly to unmodified mobile phones across the globe.
Live Stream Information
Official coverage will be available on Blue Origin’s website and YouTube channel, with the webcast scheduled to begin roughly 30 minutes prior to liftoff.
Watch Live:
- Blue Origin Official Stream: blueorigin.com/missions/ng-3
- YouTube: New Glenn NG-3 Webcast
Additional live commentary is expected from NASASpaceflight, Spaceflight Now, and other space media outlets.
Strategic Importance
A successful booster recovery on this re-flight would demonstrate New Glenn’s rapid reusability potential and help Blue Origin increase launch cadence in the competitive commercial space sector. The mission also supports the growing demand for space-based cellular infrastructure.
As of early morning on April 19, the countdown has experienced minor holds, which is typical for complex orbital missions. Teams continue to monitor weather and technical systems.
For real-time updates, follow Blue Origin’s official channels or launch tracking platforms such as RocketLaunch.Live.
This NG-3 flight continues Blue Origin’s steady progress toward establishing a reliable, reusable orbital launch capability under the leadership of founder Jeff Bezos.
