Arianespace successfully launches another 32 Amazon Leo satellites with Ariane 6
30.04.2026
On 30 April 2026, at 5:57 AM local time, Arianespace successfully launched 32 Amazon Leo satellites aboard Ariane 64 — Ariane 6’s four-booster version — from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The satellites were delivered with precision into low Earth orbit (LEO), at an altitude of approximately 465 km. The mission was completed as planned, lasting a total of 1 hour and 54 minutes from lift-off to the separation of the last satellites.
Designated VA268 by Arianespace and LE-02 by Amazon Leo, this mission was the second of 18 Ariane 6 launches planned for the deployment of the Amazon Leo constellation.
“This second launch for Amazon Leo marks another milestone in Ariane 6’s ramp-up, demonstrating our ability to meet the growing needs of the constellation market and to deliver reliable, competitive solutions to our customers. We thank Amazon for its trust and remain fully mobilised to ensure the success of this partnership,” said David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace.
The industrial ramp-up of Ariane 6 is picking up speed! This seventh successful flight, and the second in its four-booster configuration, once again confirms the precision and reliability of Europe’s heavy-lift launcher. This success reflects the hard work of our teams at ArianeGroup and across the entire Ariane 6 community, comprising more than 600 companies in 13 European countries.
With this launch, Ariane 6 confirms its full operational capability in its most powerful configuration to date. Equipped with four solid-propellant boosters, the launcher deployed 32 satellites in a complex sequence involving 12 separation phases, demonstrating its ability to meet the requirements of large-scale constellation missions. The satellites were accommodated under a 20-metre-long fairing, bringing the launcher’s total height to approximately 62 metres.
This flight marks Ariane 6’s seventh launch, and the second in its Ariane 64 configuration, further confirming the industrial ramp-up of Europe’s heavy-lift launcher.
Mission VA268, which is part of a series of 18 launches entrusted to Arianespace for the deployment of the Amazon Leo constellation, underscores the long-term partnership between the two companies. Amazon Leo is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network, designed to deliver fast, reliable internet to communities currently beyond the reach of existing networks.
VA268 at a glance:
- 360th launch by Arianespace, 2nd Arianespace launch in 2026
- 32 Amazon Leo satellites deployed by mission VA268, 64 satellites deployed by Ariane 6 since the beginning of the campaign
- 7th Ariane 6 launch and 2nd launch of Ariane 64, its most powerful configuration
- 2nd Arianespace launch for Amazon Leo, as part of a series of 18
