Europe's Ariane 6 rocket launched its most powerful configuration for the first time on February 12, carrying 32 Amazon Leo satellites to low Earth orbit. The Ariane 64 variant lifted off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana at 11:45 a.m. EST, deploying the heaviest payload ever placed into orbit by a European launcher.
The four-booster configuration doubles the rocket's performance compared to the two-booster Ariane 62 version. With four P120C solid-propellant boosters generating 3.4 million pounds of thrust, the Ariane 64 delivered approximately 20 metric tons to orbit. This marks the first of 18 Ariane 6 launches contracted by Amazon for its broadband satellite constellation.
Amazon Leo now has more than 200 satellites in orbit, with plans to deploy 3,232 spacecraft. The company has invested over $10 billion in the system, which aims to rival SpaceX's Starlink network. SpaceX currently operates more than 9,000 satellites serving over 9 million subscribers.
The VA267 mission represents multiple firsts for European space capabilities. It's the inaugural flight of the Ariane 64 configuration, the first commercial launch for Ariane 6, and the first time Amazon has used a European rocket for its constellation deployment.
The mission lasted one hour and 54 minutes from liftoff to final satellite separation.
"We are proud to support Amazon Leo with a reliable, high-performance European launch solution,"
said David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace. "With the first flight of Ariane 64, Europe's heavy-lift launcher has demonstrated its ability to deliver the most demanding large-scale constellation missions."
Amazon faces a near-term shortage of launch capacity, according to a January FCC filing. The company requested an extension of its July 2026 deadline to deploy half of its constellation, citing delays with multiple launch providers. Amazon has secured over 100 launches across four providers: United Launch Alliance, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Arianespace.
The Ariane 6 has achieved six flights since its introduction in July 2024, demonstrating the fastest launch cadence among new heavy-lift rockets. ULA's Vulcan has flown four times, while Blue Origin's New Glenn is preparing for its third flight. Amazon has committed to 38 Vulcan launches, 24 New Glenn missions, and the 18 Ariane 6 flights.
"This new success is a major milestone for the development of Ariane 6 as it was the first flight in the four-booster version,"
said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup, who will step down in March 2026. "Now, Europe has two versions of Ariane 6 heavy launcher to meet all of its needs."
The European Space Agency noted the launch helps resolve a "launcher crisis" that previously prevented Europe from launching its own payloads. Upgrades are already planned, including replacing P120C boosters with more powerful P160C versions that will increase performance by 10-15%.
Amazon plans between four to five Ariane 64 launches this year and around 20 overall launches in 2026. The company aims to begin offering service in the first half of the year, targeting the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, and Argentina as early markets.
