Blue Origin achieved company's historic milestone on Sunday, (April 19), by successfully reusing a New Glenn first-stage booster for the third flight (NG-3), but the mission ultimately failed to deliver its payload correctly due to a second-stage error.

The rocket launched at 1125 UTC from Launch Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where the booster named "Never Tell Me The Odds" (GS1-SN002) made its second flight, marking the first time Blue Origin has re-flown an orbital-class booster.

"Never Tell Me The Odds" shut off its engines and separated from the upper part of the rocket about 3.5 minutes into flight, landing back on Blue Origin's droneship "Jacklyn" in the Atlantic Ocean around six minutes later.

Blue Origin workers across the country cheered loudly as the booster returned to Earth, chanting GS-1 (the technical name of the booster, which Blue Origin calls "Never Tell Me The Odds") during landing.

Jordan Charles, vice president of New Glenn for Blue Origin, said during launch commentary that engineers refurbished the thermal protection system along the base of the rocket so it could better handle the heat of reentry.

"That gets pretty hot as you're coming in during our reentry process," Charles said. "So we want to definitely see and correlate a bit better our thermal environments as we're flying this particular mission."

Blue Origin also made guidance system upgrades to the booster for today's flight.

"We made a few tweaks with respect to how the rocket actually reenters, and then on the inside of the rocket, just making sure all of our systems continue to work as we as we expect that they will," Charles said.

The first reuse of a New Glenn first stage, even if its engines are new, is a significant step toward the company's ultimate vision for the rocket, whose first stages are designed to fly at least 25 times apiece. For this flight, Blue Origin replaced all seven BE-4 engines with new units and tested upgrades, including a thermal protection system on one nozzle, while retaining the original booster shell.

Of the two New Glenn missions to date, only NG-2 successfully landed its first stage aboard the Jacklyn droneship. That mission launched NASA's ESCAPADE probes on a mission to Mars in November 2025. New Glenn debuted in January 2025, on a mission that reached orbit successfully but did not pull off a first-stage landing.

While the first stage performed flawlessly and landed on the Jacklyn during Sunday's launch, the second stage placed the BlueBird 7 satellite for AST SpaceMobile into a lower-than-planned, unusable orbit.

The BlueBird 7 satellite, which features a massive 2,400-square-foot phased array antenna, separated from the rocket and powered on, but its onboard propulsion system could not compensate for the insufficient altitude to reach its intended operational position. AST SpaceMobile confirmed that the satellite will be de-orbited as it lacks the fuel to climb to the required orbit, though the hardware was fully insured.

The failure occurred because the New Glenn's upper stage failed to execute a planned second engine firing or did not run for the full duration required to raise the payload to the target orbit of approximately 285 miles (460 kilometers) at a 49-degree inclination.

"We have confirmed payload separation. AST SpaceMobile has confirmed the satellite has powered on," Blue Origin wrote in a social media update. "The payload was placed into an off-nominal orbit. We are currently assessing and will update when we have more detailed information."

AST SpaceMobile later provided its own update. "While the satellite separated from the launch vehicle and powered on, the altitude is too low to sustain operations with its on-board thruster technology and will [be] de-orbited," the company said in a statement. "The cost of the satellite is expected to be recovered under the company’s insurance policy."

BlueBird 7 was the second satellite in Texas company AST SpaceMobile's "Block 2" constellation, designed to provide direct-to-cellphone 4G/5G service, with the company targeting 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026. Its predecessor, BlueBird 6, launched on an Indian LVM3 rocket last December. BlueBird 6 is one of the largest satellites in space, with an antenna that spans 2,400 square feet (223 square meters). BlueBird 7 has the same dimensions.

BlueBirds 1-5, the "Block 1" version, while sizable in their own right, pale in comparison; their antennas cover a more modest 693 square feet (64.4 m) apiece.

Bluebird 7 was scheduled to be deployed into orbit from New Glenn's upper stage about 1 hour and 15 minutes after liftoff. But about 2 hours after liftoff, Blue Origin reported that something appeared to go wrong.

New Glenn stands 322 feet (98 meters) tall — about the same size as the NASA Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that launched the Artemis 2 mission around the moon, and nearly 100 feet (30 m) taller than the 230-foot (70-m) Falcon 9.

New Glenn's first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, which burn a fuel mixture of liquid oxygen and liquid methane, known as methalox — the same fuel used by the 33 SpaceX-built Raptor engines that power Starship's Super Heavy booster.

The main goal of Sunday's New Glenn rocket mission was not only to demonstrate it's reusable, but to launch a massive satellite into orbit. Its reusability would allow the company to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and Starship rockets, the only orbital-capable boosters to date with proven reusability.

Blue Origin is relying on New Glenn to launch the company's Blue Moon lander, one of two commercial vehicles NASA selected to land astronauts on the moon as part of the agency's Artemis program.

SpaceX had been NASA's first choice for a crewed lunar lander, with Starship slated to put astronauts on the moon on the Artemis 3 mission. But delays and a recent shakeup of Artemis architecture has put Blue Moon back in the spotlight.

During Sunday's launch, Blue Origin officials said its Mark 1 Blue Moon lander, an uncrewed version of the lander, will launch to the moon by the end of this summer. The lander recently completed environmental testing at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. It is now back at Blue Origin's Rocket Park facility in Cape Canaveral for final work. The problem New Glenn experienced on today's launch could complicate that timeline, however.

Artemis 3 will no longer go to the moon. NASA now wants astronauts aboard its Orion spacecraft to practice rendezvous and docking maneuvers in Earth orbit with either or both of the lunar landers, and has indicated a willingness to fly with whichever is ready once it's time to launch — hopefully, in mid-2027.

Both landers have a list of qualifications and technology demonstrations to complete before NASA certifies either to support astronauts aboard, such as on-orbit cryogenic fuel transfer and uncrewed lunar landings, but each is making progress.

SpaceX is currently performing prelaunch tests on the Version 3 of its Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage, which are expected to lift off on the vehicle's 12th test flight in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Mark 1 (Mk1) Blue Moon vehicle recently completed a stint inside the massive vacuum chamber at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and was later shipped to the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, for further testing.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" for commercial vessels for the remainder of a two-week ceasefire*, specifying that passage must follow a coordinated route previously designated by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization, which includes navigational corridors around Larak Island and avoids a central "dangerous area" potentially containing sea mines.

"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Araghchi wrote on X. He framed the reopening as conditional on the ceasefire with the U.S. and Israel, particularly citing the truce in Lebanon.

President Donald Trump confirmed the strait is "COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS," but stressed the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports "will remain in full force" until a comprehensive deal—especially on Iran’s nuclear program—is finalized, clarifying that the reopening is not tied to the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.

Trump thanked Pakistan for mediation efforts and expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar for their "bravery and help," while dismissing NATO as a "Paper Tiger" and telling them to "stay away." He also declared Israel is "PROHIBITED" from bombing Lebanon, a restriction the State Department clarified applies only to offensive actions, not self-defense.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf supported the move, emphasizing Iran’s sovereignty over the strait and warning against foreign military presence.

"1- The President of the United States made seven claims in one hour, all seven of which were false, " Ghalibaf wrote on X. "2- They did not win the war with these lies, and they will certainly not get anywhere in negotiations either. 3- With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open. 4- Passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be conducted based on the 'designated route' and with 'Iranian authorization.' 5- Whether the Strait is open or closed and the regulations governing it will be determined by the field, not by social media. 6- Media warfare and engineering public opinion are an important part of war, and the Iranian nation is not affected by these tricks. Read the real and accurate news of the negotiations in the recent interview of the Foreign Ministry spokesman."

The reopening followed a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, brokered by the U.S., which Iran insists must include Hezbollah.

Iranian state media and semiofficial outlets like Fars and Mehr criticized Araghchi’s announcement, demanding clarification and suggesting it gave Trump undeserved credit.

Oil prices dropped over 10% on the news, with Brent crude falling below $90 a barrel, signaling market relief over resumed energy flows.

U.S.-Iran talks are expected to resume soon, possibly in Pakistan, aiming for a deal that includes removal of Iranian nuclear material and mine clearance in the strait.

UN and European leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz, called for unconditional, unrestricted access in line with international maritime law, and announced plans for a multinational security mission post-ceasefire.

President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, stating it would begin at 2100 UTC following conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump invited both leaders to the White House for the first meaningful direct talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, calling the ceasefire a step toward achieving peace and claiming it as his “10th war” solved.

"I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST. On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin' Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE. It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let's, GET IT DONE!"

The ceasefire followed a rare meeting between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats in Washington on Tuesday, the first such encounter in decades, hosted by Secretary Rubio. Hostilities between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah escalated amid the US-Israel war on Iran.

While Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the truce as a “pivotal Lebanese demand,” Hezbollah expressed skepticism, with senior lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah saying their adherence depends on Israel halting all hostilities. Lebanese President Aoun reportedly refused to speak directly with Netanyahu, citing the ongoing Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, though he thanked Trump and Rubio for their mediation efforts.

Israel conducted a major strike on the last bridge connecting southern Lebanon across the Litani River, severing critical infrastructure just before the ceasefire took effect.

Despite the truce, Netanyahu confirmed Israeli forces would remain in a 6-mile-deep buffer zone in southern Lebanon, framing the ceasefire as a “timeout” contingent on Hezbollah’s disarmament and a future peace agreement.

Trump linked the Lebanon ceasefire to broader negotiations with Iran, emphasizing that U.S. military readiness remains high—Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that combat operations could resume if Iran does not agree to a deal, including on enriched uranium limits. The U.S. asserts the Lebanon ceasefire is separate from its truce with Iran, though Iran claims otherwise.

But Iran had rightly maintained that its 2-week ceasefire agreement with the U.S. also covers the Israel-Hezbollah war, and has reportedly refused to engage in a second round of negotiations with the U.S. in Pakistan, if Israel does not pause it's military operations in Lebanon.

Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, and CENTCOM Commander Adm. Bradley Cooper held a briefing confirming a sustained U.S. blockade of all Iranian ports and the coastline, distinct from a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The operation, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, began at 1400 UTC on Monday, following the collapse of peace talks in Islamabad, with U.S. forces warning that they will use force against any vessel attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports regardless of nationality.

13 ships have turned away in the past 24 hours after receiving warnings; over 10,000 U.S. personnel, a dozen ships, and dozens of aircraft are involved, with enforcement occurring in both Iranian territorial seas and international waters. Hegseth stated the blockade would last "as long as it takes" and warned that if Iran rejects a deal, U.S. forces are ready to resume strikes on infrastructure, power, and energy facilities.

Caine emphasized that U.S. forces remain "locked and loaded" and that Iran lacks the defense industry to replenish offensive or defensive capabilities lost during over five weeks of prior strikes. Adm. Cooper noted that the current ceasefire is being utilized to rearm, retool, and adjust tactics, with high troop morale and a focus on preventing Iran from moving military assets.

The blockade was initiated after peace talks in Pakistan failed to produce an agreement, prompting the U.S. to escalate pressure on Tehran. While the U.S. insists the operation targets specific Iranian ports rather than the broader Strait of Hormuz, the military has indicated it will pursue any vessel, including those in the "dark fleet," providing material support to Iran.

Hegseth further criticized the press for negative coverage, comparing them to the Pharisees, while affirming that U.S. objectives—preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon—remain firm.