Amazon Leo Launches 36 More Satellites
Launch successful after half hour delay.
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2026 — Amazon Leo successfully launched another 36 satellites into low-Earth orbit on Wednesday.
The rocket took off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 8:21 a.m. EDT. The launch debuted the new P160C solid rocket boosters, which allow a heavier payload.
“All the satellite separation that we have been able to track happened exactly as planned,” said Arianespace President David Cavaillolès in a live update. “Today we have launched the heaviest [Ariene] launcher ever, and this is really a turning point.”
The mission marked 100 Amazon Leo satellites launched by French rocket company Arianespace. The flight brings Amazon to 367 spacecraft in orbit.
The Federal Communications Commission's Space Bureau Chief Jay Schwarz recently granted Amazon its requested deadline waiver, which would have required Amazon to put 50 percent of its satellites in orbit by July 30, 2026. The FCC told Amazon it would lose its priority status for any launches after that date.
Amazon said it aims to have 700 satellites in orbit by that date, but the ambitious goal still puts them well short of the 1,616 required by the Space Bureau. Amazon must still meet the full deployment deadline of 3,232 satellites by July 30, 2029.
