Image: ESA\CNES\ArianespaceArianeGroup\Optique Vidéo du CSG–T. Leduc

Ariane 64 Block 2 | Amazon Leo (LE-03)

Name: Ariane 64 Block 2 | Amazon Leo (LE-03)
Start: 2026-06-17T12:21:52.000Z
Location: Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Arianespace · Ariane 64 Block 2 · Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Arianespace's 327th launch · 3rd this year · humanity's 7,318th orbital launch attempt

T− --:--:--June 17, 2026 · 12:21 UTCAdd to calendar

Success

The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).

Window: Jun 17, 11:53 – Jun 17, 12:22 UTC

Flight preview

Amazon Leo (LE-03)

Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access, this constellation will be managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. This constellation is planned to be composed of 3,276 satellites. The satellites are projected to be placed in 98 orbital planes in three orbital layers, one at 590 km, 610 km and 630 km altitude. 36 satellites will be carried on this Ariane 6 launch.

Communications · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

Booster

No booster details available.

Watch

Flight VA269 | Amazon Leo LE-03 | Ariane 6 | Arianespace — Arianespace
Vol VA269 | Amazon Leo LE-03 | Ariane 6 | Arianespace — Arianespace
Lancement Ariane 6 avec les nouveaux propulseurs P160C (Amazon LEO - VA269) — CNES
Ariane 6 Debuts New Booster Upgrade launching Amazon Leo (LE-03) — NASASpaceflight
Arianespace - Ariane 64 - Amazon Leo (LE-03) - ELA-4 - Guiana SC, French Guiana - June 17, 2026 — SPACE AFFAIRS

Flight timeline

T−7SIgnition
P0DLiftoff
T+2M21SSRB Separation
T+3M11SFairing Separation
T+7M45SMECO
T+7M51SStage 2 Separation
T+7M59SSES-1
T+17M51SSECO-1
T+1H8M44SSES-2
T+1H9M2SSECO-2
T+1H26M32SPayload Deployment Sequence Start
T+1H51M17SPayload Deployment Sequence End
T+2H40M57SSES-3
T+2H41M15SSECO-3

Updates

Launch success, all satellites have separated.
Cosmic_Penguin · 6/17/2026 · source
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin · 6/17/2026 · source
New T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin · 6/17/2026 · source
Hold at T-01:08.
Cosmic_Penguin · 6/17/2026 · source
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin · 6/17/2026 · source
Official Webcast by Arianespace has started
LL2 · 6/17/2026 · source
NET June 17.
Cosmic_Penguin · 6/5/2026 · source
Reportedly targeting Q2 2026, as early as April or May
Nosu · 1/19/2026 · source
NET 2026 with the introduction of Block 2 for Kuiper, per https://spacenews.com/europe-aims-to-end-space-access-crisis-with-ariane-6s-inaugural-launch/
Nosu · 6/26/2024 · source
NET 2025
Nosu · 10/12/2023 · source

News

ESA·Jul 2, 2026

Timelapse: four P160C boosters for Ariane 6 – from integration to launch

A core stage, an upper stage and four of the most powerful boosters ever produced in Europe. This timelapse video shows how Ariane 6 is built up at the launch zone.

ESA·Jun 19, 2026

Ariane 6 flight VA269: Liftoff captured from the mobile gantry

On 17 June at 09:21 local time (13:21 BST, 14:21 CEST), Ariane 6 flight VA269 soared to orbit from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. 36 satellites for Amazon’s Leo constellation left Earth powered by four P160C-based boosters, the first time these upgraded boosters were used – making this launch the most powerful so far for Europe’s heavy-lift rocket.

European Spaceflight·Jun 17, 2026

First Upgraded Ariane 6 Rocket Launches 36 Satellites for Amazon

Arianespace has successfully completed its third Ariane 6 flight of 2026, delivering another 36 Amazon satellites to orbit aboard a new variant of the rocket that features the upgraded P160C solid-fuel boosters. The Ariane 64 rocket, which features four solid-fuel boosters, lifted off at 12:21 UTC from ELA-4 at the Guiana Space Centre. The launch […]