Amazon's Leo satellite internet constellation has not conducted a successful launch in 12 weeks, according to a review of the program's progress. The company's most recent deployment placed 29 satellites in orbit aboard United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket on July 2nd. That launch brought Leo's total to 396 satellites, a fraction of the more than 11,000 satellites SpaceX's Starlink currently operates. SpaceX has launched 552 Starlink satellites in the same period since July 2nd.
Melissa Wuerl, Amazon Leo's launch systems director, said after that July mission that the company had a clear path to increase its launch and deployment cadence. That increase has not materialized. The setbacks stem largely from problems affecting Amazon's launch partners rather than the satellites themselves.
United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, which is set to replace the retiring Atlas V that Amazon has relied on, has been grounded by the US Space Force since February 2026. The grounding followed a booster anomaly that remains under investigation. Blue Origin, the space company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is also under contract to launch Leo satellites, but its New Glenn rocket has been grounded since its only launchpad was destroyed in May.
Amazon announced earlier this month that it ordered six additional launches on Arianespace's A64 heavy lift rocket, raising its total contracted launches from 18 to 24. That vehicle is also delayed. Arianespace has cited issues with an unspecified Ariane 6 component expected to disrupt launches for the remainder of 2026. Arianespace had been expected to launch 36 Leo satellites aboard Ariane 64 in October, but those missions have been removed from the European spaceport website.
It remains unclear when Amazon will next expand the Leo constellation. The service is in its early stages and has already received an extension of its FCC deadline to launch half of its planned 3,232 satellites, an extension conditioned on the company moving quickly. Amazon has said the nearly 400 satellites in operation are enough to switch on a limited version of its internet service. Its stated mid-2026 deadline for commercial availability has passed without an update.
For US consumers, the delays leave SpaceX's Starlink as the dominant option in satellite broadband, with Amazon's rival service not yet commercially available. At the current pace, Leo is years away from competing with Starlink globally.
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