New GlennNew Glenn | BlueBird Block 2 #2
Launch Time
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 10:45 AM UTC
Current Status
To Be Confirmed
AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird Block 1 satellites, required to achieve 24/7 continuous cellular broadband service coverage in the United States, with beams designed to support a capacity of up to 40 MHz, enabling peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting voice, full data and video applications. The Block 2 BlueBirds, featuring as large as 2400 square foot communications arrays, will be the largest satellites ever commercially deployed in Low Earth orbit once launched. This launch will feature 1 satellite, BlueBird 7/BlueBird Block 2 FM2.
Launch Provider
Blue Origin
Launch Vehicle
New Glenn
Launch Date
16 April 2026
Launch Time (Minute)
10:45 AM
Launch Window
178 minutes
Launch Status
To Be Confirmed
Communications
Low Earth Orbit
AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird Block 1 satellites, required to achieve 24/7 continuous cellular broadband service coverage in the United States, with beams designed to support a capacity of up to 40 MHz, enabling peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting voice, full data and video applications. The Block 2 BlueBirds, featuring as large as 2400 square foot communications arrays, will be the largest satellites ever commercially deployed in Low Earth orbit once launched. This launch will feature 1 satellite, BlueBird 7/BlueBird Block 2 FM2.
Credit: Blue Origin
Window Start
10:45 AM
Liftoff (T-0)
10:45 AM
Window End
01:43 PM
Blue Origin
Commercial
Blue Origin is an American privately funded aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight services company set up by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos with its headquarters in Kent, Washington. The company is developing technologies to enable private human access to space with the goal to dramatically lower costs and increase reliability. Blue Origin currently launches its New Shepard sub-orbital vehicle from its West Texas launch site, they are currently constructing a launch pad for their orbital vehicle New Glenn at Cape Canaveral LC-36.
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Blue Origin will reuse a New Glenn booster for the first time on the rocket’s next launch, carrying a satellite for AST SpaceMobile. The post Blue Origin to reuse New Glenn booster on next launch appeared first on SpaceNews.
With this quick turnaround, Blue Origin takes a step toward a faster cadence.
A batch of rockets will support sending up to about 60 of AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites to orbit. The company’s goal is to establish a space-based cellular broadband network.