Blue Origin encapsulated New Glenn rocket’s third flight payload

Blue Origin encapsulated the payload for the third New Glenn flight by integrating AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellite inside the fairing. The company is now ready to perform the pre-launch tests on the launch vehicle.

The third New Glenn flight is targeting no earlier than late February from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket maker has announced that the mission will reuse the booster from the second mission. This booster performed the first-ever landing on a droneship for the rocket maker. Following its recovery, the Blue Origin teams refurbished the rocket to fly again in a short period of time.

Images shared on social media show the encapsulated fairings in the Lunar Plant 1 high bay for the first time. They will now shift the integrated assembly to the integration facility with custom transporter handles. This tool crabs sideways and spins fully around its center without shifting position. It keeps the fairing stable and makes the ground operations efficient for the big rocket.

This AST Mobile’s Block 2 satellite is designed to improve the space-based cellular broadband network. It packs a 2,400-square-foot phased array and supports peak data rates around 120 megabits per second.

AST Mobile encapsulated inside New Glenn payload fairing for third flight (Source – Blue Origin)

The design holds thousands of patents and teams with over 50 partners. It aims to connect nearly six billion smartphones directly from orbit. Users in remote areas will gain internet service where a traditional network isn’t available.

Last month, Blue Origin made the NG-3 flight plans official and targeted in the late February window. With encapsulation completed, crews can now focus on final stacking and pad checks as well as every system.

The encapsulation process indicates steady progress after earlier flights. What makes the mission intriguing is the reuse of the first stage of the booster, which will cut costs and set up faster turnaround times ahead.