Arianespace to Launch Another 32 Amazon Leo Satellites with Ariane 64 on April 28, 2026
On April 28, 2026 local time, Arianespace will launch 32 Amazon Leo satellites aboard Ariane 6 in its Ariane 64 configuration from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The launch window will be announced in the coming weeks.
The mission, called VA268 and LE-02 for Amazon Leo, will mark the second Ariane 6 launch dedicated to the deployment of the Amazon Leo constellation, within a series of 18.
Equipped with four solid rocket boosters, Ariane 64 is the most powerful version of Ariane 6. For this mission, the launcher will carry the 32 satellites under its 20-meter-long fairing and deploy them into low Earth orbit following a mission lasting less than 2 hours from lift-off to separation of the last spacecraft.
The 32 Amazon Leo satellites arrived in Kourou on March 10 and March 12. Meanwhile, the launcher components for VA268 are currently arriving at the port of Pariacabo, the entry point for Ariane launch hardware transported to the Guiana Space Centre aboard the purpose-built vessel Canopée.Their arrival marks the beginning of the VA268 launch campaign, including launcher integration and testing and payload processing ahead of launch.
Amazon Leo is Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite network, whose mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers beyond the reach of existing networks. Through this mission, Arianespace continues to contribute to the expansion of connectivity services worldwide.
VA268 is part of a series of 18 launches entrusted to Arianespace for the deployment of Amazon's constellation, underscoring the long-term partnership between the two organizations.
The VA268 launch at a glance:
360th launch by Arianespace, 2nd Arianespace launch in 2026
7th Ariane 6 launch and 2nd launch of Ariane 64, its most powerful configuration
2nd Arianespace mission for Amazon Leo, within a series of 18