Another step in Amazon’s satellite internet rollout is scheduled to take place before sunrise on December 16.
United Launch Alliance is preparing to launch an Atlas V rocket carrying 27 Amazon internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is planned during a 29 minute window that opens at 3:28 a.m. EST, which corresponds to 08:28 GMT. Viewers will be able to watch the launch live through an online space news platform or directly via the launch provider.
The mission will place 27 Amazon Leo satellites into low Earth orbit. Amazon Leo, earlier known as Project Kuiper, is Amazon’s planned satellite internet network designed to provide global connectivity. Once fully deployed, the constellation is expected to include around 3200 satellites launched through more than 80 missions using multiple launch vehicles.
So far, 6 operational missions have been completed, sending 153 Amazon Leo satellites into orbit. These figures do not include a test launch conducted in October 2023 that carried 2 prototype satellites.
This upcoming flight marks the fourth Amazon Leo mission flown using the Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V first launched in August 2002 and has built a strong reliability record over the years. United Launch Alliance is now gradually retiring the Atlas V and transitioning to its newer Vulcan Centaur rocket, which has completed 3 missions to date.
Once operational, the Amazon Leo network will deliver broadband internet services worldwide. It will compete directly with SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which currently operates with more than 9000 satellites in low Earth orbit. SpaceX has already launched over 3000 Starlink satellites in 2025 alone.
In a notable development, SpaceX is also contributing to the build out of Amazon’s network. Amazon has selected Falcon 9 as one of the rockets to deploy its satellites, alongside Ariane 6 from Arianespace, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur.
The December 16 mission represents another milestone as Amazon accelerates the expansion of its satellite based internet infrastructure.
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