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FAA Grounds New Glenn After Upper-Stage Failure Strands AST Satellite

The probe will dictate New Glenn’s return to service, raising stakes for Blue Origin’s upper stage as AST pushes to keep its launch schedule.

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The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket lifts off from LC36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force station, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket lifts off from LC36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force station, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Spectators watch the sunrise from the beach at Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral, Fla., as they wait to watch the launch of the Blue Origin New Glenn rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force station, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Overview

  • The FAA, which ordered a mishap investigation Monday, grounded Blue Origin’s rocket after Sunday’s New Glenn launch left AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 in an orbit too low to use.
  • Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said early data point to one BE-3U engine on the upper stage producing insufficient thrust on a second burn, which kept the mission from reaching its target orbit.
  • AST said the satellite separated and powered on but will be de-orbited, and it expects insurance to cover the loss, with shares dropping roughly 12% to 15% in early Monday trading.
  • New Glenn’s first-stage booster, reused on this flight, landed on the Jacklyn drone ship as planned, yet the upper-stage shortfall now puts reliability under closer review.
  • AST says replacement BlueBirds 8 through 10 are nearly ready to ship and it still targets launches every one to two months through 2026, though New Glenn cannot fly again until the FAA signs off on fixes.