Blue Origin successfully executed the first recovery of a flight-proven New Glenn first-stage booster on April 19, 2026, following a mission to deploy the BlueBird 7 satellite for AST SpaceMobile. The heavy-lift launch vehicle lifted off from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:14 a.m. EDT. Approximately eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the booster performed a controlled vertical landing on the sea-based recovery platform Jacklyn, located in the Atlantic Ocean.
This mission represents the first time Blue Origin has successfully landed a New Glenn booster that had previously flown on an orbital mission. The first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, which utilize liquefied natural gas and liquid oxygen. According to technical specifications provided by Blue Origin, the New Glenn booster is designed for a minimum of 25 flights. The successful recovery of this specific unit, designated Booster 2, confirms the structural integrity and thermal protection systems required for rapid turnaround in orbital operations.
The primary payload for the mission was the BlueBird 7 satellite, a key component of AST SpaceMobile’s planned constellation of space-based cellular broadband towers. The satellite was successfully deployed into low-Earth orbit approximately 55 minutes after launch. BlueBird 7 features a large phased-array antenna designed to provide direct-to-cell connectivity. AST SpaceMobile confirmed that ground controllers established contact with the satellite shortly after separation, and initial telemetry indicates that all systems are functioning within nominal parameters.
Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, stated in a post-launch briefing that the landing marks a pivotal transition for the company from development to operational reusability. Limp noted that the data gathered from the descent and landing of the reused booster will be used to refine the refurbishment process for future missions. The New Glenn vehicle features a seven-meter fairing, providing twice the volume of any existing five-meter launch system, which allowed for the specific configuration of the BlueBird 7 payload.
The New Glenn program has faced several years of development, with this successful reuse mission serving as a validation of the vehicle's design architecture. The booster’s landing legs and aerodynamic fins operated as intended during the atmospheric reentry phase, which saw the vehicle endure peak heating and pressure before the final landing burn. With this milestone, Blue Origin moves closer to its stated goal of increasing launch frequency and reducing the cost of access to orbit for commercial and government customers.