A giant cell tower is going to space this weekend

Blue Origin’s New Glenn is set to launch with a reused booster, marking a major test of its reusable rocket program.

The mission will deploy AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7, a large communications satellite built for direct-to-phone 4G/5G service from space.

If successful, the satellite could expand broadband coverage in remote dead zones and strengthen competition with SpaceX’s Starlink and other rivals.

The launch is also a key milestone for satellite-to-phone connectivity, an emerging market backed by companies like AST SpaceMobile and partners such as T-Mobile.