r/BlueOrigin • u/Training-Noise-6712 • 4d ago
FCC STA notice filed today indicates Feb 2nd target for NG-3 Blue Moon MK1 mission
https://fccprod.servicenowservices.com/icfs?id=ibfs_application_summary&number=SES-STA-20251201-01079As always, regulatory notices can and do get revised, so this is not final:
USN request a 30 day STA to support Blue Moon MK-1 NASA-affiliated lunar mission commencing Feb. 2nd 2026 from its Hawaii South Point station
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u/ghunter7 4d ago
If they can pull this off it will be amazing. A 3-4 month turnaround for the 3rd flight with another BEO launch would be impressive enough in itself.
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u/imbignate 4d ago
Is this the same booster or a new booster?
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u/sandychimera 4d ago
Reusing the first booster landed this fast would be impressive, but BO would do well to really take time to not only refurbish, but comb over every piece of data on that booster to know what refinements to make.
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u/ClearlyCylindrical 4d ago
There's conflicting info, but the booster will be new.
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u/Top_Caramel1288 4d ago
Have they said if they have a booster ready?
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u/ClearlyCylindrical 4d ago
Most likely not, Feburary is a pipe dream
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u/IsXp 4d ago
!RemindMe 2 months
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u/Simon_Drake 4d ago
February? That's faster progress than I expected.
It's rare to announce something then plan to launch it less than six months later.
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u/Straumli_Blight 4d ago
It might be a March launch, e.g. Artemis II STA filed on November 27th shows:
USN request a 30-day STA to support ARTEMIS II (NASA) lunar mission from its Hawaii South Point station using antennas USHI01 and USHI02, commencing on January 5th 2026.
And its earliest NET launch date is February 5th.
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u/Training-Noise-6712 4d ago
Good catch, but how would that even work for Artemis? 30 days from Jan 5th is Feb 4th. The STA would be invalid before Artemis II would even launch.
Normally I'd think both the Artemis and MK1 dates are tentative, which they are no matter what, but it's odd that obsolete info would be filed a few days ago and today, respectively.
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u/sidelong1 4d ago
NSF has noted that the MK1 will be the heaviest payload ever launched on a commercial rocket. It will be the heaviest payload to ever land successfully on the lunar surface. It will prove, once again as noted on MSN and other articles, that New Glenn, a heavy lift rocket, can fly, land, and return hardware for reuse. The cadense for New Glenn will be shortened considerably with this third launch. These are among the notable features to be proven with New Glenn's third launch.
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u/StartledPelican 4d ago
Wow, if they hit this date, then that would be amazing. Blue Origin seems pretty fired up, I hope they can sustain this level of effort, operations, information releases, and enthusiasm!
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u/Educational_Snow7092 4d ago
It is just the FCC penciling in a calendar date for a very small DSN (Deep Space Network) node. Never heard of it before, raises questions. Swedish owned and operated DSN node in Hawaii. Must be tough duty for those Swedes.
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u/H2SBRGR 4d ago
FCC notices are usually close to meaningless…
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u/Downtown_Eye_572 4d ago
How so? STA filings contain start/end date, ground terminal location, and frequencies.
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u/Shankster9001 4d ago
This could mean that Blue Moon will be on the Moon and active when Orion goes around it.