Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is grounded after launching satellite into the wrong orbit

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, Blue Origin, blamed a bad engine Monday for a failed weekend launch that left a satellite in the wrong orbit, dooming it.

Launches of the huge New Glenn rocket are grounded until Blue Origin and the Federal Aviation Administration complete their investigation.

The rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday. The recycled first-stage booster performed well, landing on an ocean barge several minutes into the flight. But the upper stage was unable to put the satellite into a high enough orbit to begin operations.

Preliminary data indicate that one of the upper stage engines failed to produce enough thrust, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said.

The satellite was supposed to join AST SpaceMobile's orbiting network of satellites designed to provide direct space-to-smart phone service.

The rocket’s upper stage and satellite reentered the atmosphere Monday, according to the U.S. Space Force. No additional detail was available.

It was only the third flight for New Glenn, Blue Origin's hulking rocket for delivering spacecraft to orbit. NASA is counting on New Glenn to launch Blue Moon lunar landers for the Artemis moon program. SpaceX's Starship is also in the running to land astronauts on the moon as early as 2028.

Towering more than 320 feet (98 meters), the rocket is named for John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth in 1962.

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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)

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)

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)

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)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Petr Josek, is an AP photojournalist in Prague, the Czech Republic. He is an award-winning photographer who has covered World Cup tournaments and Olympic Games dating back to 2006.

I took this photo from a catwalk position which gives you an unique angle from the highest possible position, I set up on the opposite side of the benches because we have another photographer on a slightly lower position. This position also allowed me to shoot against the light and use nice long shadows as the game progressed.

Shooting from a catwalk is a little tricky, especially with the 400mm lens because i can't use a monopod. I had to find a place between the stadiums lights on the catwalk. But it worked out for me.

A lot of attention has been paid to the great goal scorers in this tournament and Kylian Mbappe is one of the newsmakers who has taken center stage with his outstanding performances. Even though in this picture he is reacting to missing a chance to score, it captures him in his own spotlight. The pose he struck was just perfect, the motion of his body and the position on the field — capturing him alone in the space — and the added fact that the frame fits his full shadow makes this photo work quite well.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

France's Kylian Mbappe reacts to missing scoring chance during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Sweden in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)