AST SpaceMobile’s satellite launch by New Glenn resulted in it reaching a ‘lower-than-planned orbit.’
The Federal Aviation Administration has halted Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket after its payload mishap on Sunday, reported by the Orlando Sentinel. The rocket experienced a setback in the second-stage flight sequence, despite a successful lift-off, the FAA confirmed.
Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, launched the New Glenn from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Although the rocket’s reusable booster returned safely, its upper stage did not deliver the BlueBird 7 satellite as intended. According to AST SpaceMobile, the satellite was placed in an orbit too low for operational sustainability, necessitating its removal from orbit.
Blue Origin stated that the rocket’s second stage entered a “coast phase” after hitting an abnormal orbit but shared no further details about the incident or return plans. Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer, noted Space Force data indicating an object in orbit, though it’s unclear if it tracks the satellite or the rocket’s upper stage. The FAA and Blue Origin have not yet commented to The Verge.
The FAA previously grounded Blue Origin’s New Shepard for over a year in 2022 after a booster issue and has also held SpaceX’s rockets post-launch incidents.