Blue origin: Blue Origin launched its third New Glenn rocket on Sunday, successfully reusing and recovering a previously flown first stage. However, the rocket's second stage failed to place the payload, a direct-to-cellphone communications satellite, into its intended orbit, rendering it unusable.
According to Emirates News Agency, AST SpaceMobile, based in Midland, Texas, and the builder of the BlueBird 7 satellite, confirmed that the satellite's on-board propulsion system could not correct the orbit's lower-than-planned altitude. In a statement, AST SpaceMobile indicated that the BlueBird 7 satellite separated from the launch vehicle and powered on, but its current altitude is insufficient to sustain operations. Consequently, the satellite will de-orbit due to the limitations of its on-board thruster technology.
