Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket achieved its second successful booster landing on April 19, 2026, just hours after launching a commercial satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The reusable first-stage booster, named “Never Tell Me The Odds,” touched down at 7:35 a.m. on Blue Origin’s drone ship Jacklyn, more than 300 miles downrange. The mission marked the first time the booster was used for a second flight, having previously launched the rocket’s second mission in December 2025.
The rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 36 at 7:28 a.m. and carried AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite to low Earth orbit. The satellite is part of a constellation designed to expand direct-to-smartphone broadband services, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2026. Blue Origin confirmed the second stage and payload reached orbit shortly after engine cutoff at 7:38 a.m.
During the launch, Blue Origin’s live broadcast highlighted the rocket’s performance. Communications specialist Tabitha Lipkin noted the vehicle was traveling at about 1 kilometer per second during ascent. The mission followed a similar successful landing on April 18, when the same booster landed after its first flight. The reuse of the booster is a critical step toward reducing costs for heavy-lift space missions, including future lunar projects.
The NG-3 mission is Blue Origin’s third flight of the New Glenn rocket since its debut in 2023. The company has previously launched satellites for NASA and private firms, but this mission is the first to use a reused booster. Engineers are now analyzing data from both landings to refine the rocket’s reusability and reliability. The next scheduled launch is set for late 2026, pending regulatory approval.