Blue Origin Booster Lands but Misplaces AST SpaceMobile Satellite Orbit
Blue Origin's New Glenn booster 'Never Tell Me the Odds' landed successfully on its third flight but failed to place AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite into its planned orbit. The satellite's lower-than-intended orbit threatens timelines for space-based cellular broadband constellations competing with Amazon's Project Kuiper and SpaceX Starlink.
1. New Glenn Mission Outcome
On its third flight, the New Glenn booster 'Never Tell Me the Odds' executed a successful landing after roughly ten minutes, but the vehicle's upper stage placed AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite into a lower-than-intended orbit, preventing proper deployment for network testing.
2. Impact on Space-Broadband Competition
The satellite's orbital misplacement could delay AST SpaceMobile's planned space-based cellular broadband service, potentially reducing near-term competitive pressure on Amazon's Project Kuiper and SpaceX's Starlink, and affecting strategic timing for satellite internet providers.