The first launch of the Ariane 6 with four boosters, the Ariane 64, is next to be launched after Galileo. Called mission VA267, it will orbit satellites of Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband constellation.
While the 16 October Arianespace announcement did not offer any explanation for the delay, it did reveal that the inaugural flight of the Ariane 64 rocket would be its first launch of 2026. The mission will be the first of 18 contracted by Amazon to carry its Project Kuiper satellites to orbit.
Is this launch with P120C or P160C boosters? AFAIK P160C was qualified in April. Wouldn't it be more effocient to skip the Ariane 64 with P120C and directly move to the P160C version. Amazon Kuiper can add a couple of satellites and it barely costs more.
Amazon Leo@AmazonleoWashington ➡️ Florida ➡️ French GuianaWe’ve completed initial processing and begun shipping satellites for our first mission with @Arianespace. Satellites are transported in specialized, temperature-controlled containers en route to French Guiana, where they’ll be processed and integrated ahead of launch on Ariane 64.
The complete batch of satellites for our first @Arianespace mission have arrived in French Guiana. All satellites have cleared initial health checkouts, and teams will soon begin processing and integration ahead of launch on Ariane 64.
The countdown has officially begun. 🚀The first @Amazonleo satellites have landed in French Guiana, arriving from Florida and ready to begin the launch campaign of our very first Ariane 64 mission — the heavy-lift configuration of Ariane 6, powered by four P120C boosters.
This arrival kicks off a long-term partnership and a series of 18 dedicated launches that will help bring Amazon's satellite internet constellation to orbit.The journey to Amazon Leo’s first Ariane 6 liftoff starts here.More updates coming soon.#LaunchingAmbitions #Ariane6
The mission, named Leo Europe 1 (LE-01), will launch 32 satellites.https://x.com/Amazonleo/status/1998411080595354039?t=nJjXkSphzQe5DPnav4JG0w&s=19
Quote from: Starship_SpaceX on 12/09/2025 02:50 pmThe mission, named Leo Europe 1 (LE-01), will launch 32 satellites.https://x.com/Amazonleo/status/1998411080595354039?t=nJjXkSphzQe5DPnav4JG0w&s=19Where did you see this number? The tweet didn't seem to include it.At 571 kg per satellite, inclusive of the dispenser, this is a payload of 18,272 kg.
The first of 18 Arianespace launches will add 32 Amazon Leo satellites in 2026.
Quote from: sstli2 on 12/09/2025 03:13 pmQuote from: Starship_SpaceX on 12/09/2025 02:50 pmThe mission, named Leo Europe 1 (LE-01), will launch 32 satellites.https://x.com/Amazonleo/status/1998411080595354039?t=nJjXkSphzQe5DPnav4JG0w&s=19Where did you see this number? The tweet didn't seem to include it.At 571 kg per satellite, inclusive of the dispenser, this is a payload of 18,272 kg.See: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-leo/amazon-leo-arianespace-first-launch-canopee-ariane-6QuoteThe first of 18 Arianespace launches will add 32 Amazon Leo satellites in 2026.
The initial launch contract stipulated a launch capacity of 35 satellites per burst, with the upgraded version capable of launching 40. It appears the current capacity is lower than expected.
Wouldn't the natural explanation be running at a conservative margin on the debut of a new configuration? Perhaps they try for the full 35 on a subsequent flight?
Quote from: sstli2 on 12/09/2025 03:56 pmWouldn't the natural explanation be running at a conservative margin on the debut of a new configuration? Perhaps they try for the full 35 on a subsequent flight?I don't know the details of Amazon LEO, but It will likely have multiple different "shells", so a particular launch to a particular shell may require more delta-v and therefore fewer satellites. We see this sort of variation all the time with Starlink on F9.
Another explanation is that Amazon's satellites are heavier than initially anticipated, leading to a decrease in the number of satellites launched. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether ULA's VC6 can achieve the expected 45-satellite launch in a single run. However, ULA has explicitly stated that they will use the Centaur 5, specifically optimized for LEO launches. I'm unsure whether Amazon had already planned to use the optimized Centaur 5 when signing the contract with ULA.
The rocket’s core stage—powered by a single 860,200-lb.-thrust RD-180 engine—could have carried 27 KuiperSats into low Earth orbit (LEO), which was the plan when Amazon bought nine Atlas V rides in 2021. The price of an Atlas V ride starts at $109 million, ULA’s website states. Amazon’s splurge on an Atlas V to fly a pair of small satellites came after technical issues delayed two previous bookings.
