Another 29 Amazon Kuiper Satellites Reach Orbit Aboard an Atlas V
On April 4, 2026, at 1:46 AM local time (7:46 AM Italian time), a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. On board were 29 satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper constellation, for the LA-05 (Leo Atlas 5) mission.
With this latest deployment, the total number of Amazon Kuiper satellites in low Earth orbit now exceeds 230. The ambitious project aims to provide internet connectivity, especially in regions with limited or no terrestrial infrastructure, similar to SpaceX's Starlink service.
The previous launch for Amazon Kuiper satellites took place on February 12, 2026, carried by the first Ariane 64, the more powerful version of the European Ariane 6 launcher equipped with four solid rocket boosters. Ariane 64 successfully deployed 32 Amazon satellites. The next mission for the constellation is scheduled for April 24, again with an Atlas V, carrying 29 satellites (LA-06, Leo Atlas 6). Just a few days later, on April 28, another Ariane 64 launch (LE-02, Leo Europe 2) will add 32 more satellites to the fleet.
United Launch Alliance has successfully completed today’s launch of the Amazon Leo 5 mission by the Atlas V rocket! All 29 advanced broadband satellites have been released into low Earth orbit, marking the largest payload ever launched by the venerable rocket family.
Atlas V has… pic.twitter.com/4Zf9emzW0w
— ULA (@ulalaunch) April 4, 2026
Accelerating Satellite Production and Launches
Amazon recently announced its commitment to significantly accelerate both satellite production and launch frequency. The company has stated its intention to increase the number of missions each year to more rapidly complete its vast satellite constellation.
To support this ambitious pace, Amazon has invested over $200 million in ULA's launch infrastructure in Florida. These enhancements are expected to double ULA's annual launch capacity, providing crucial support for Kuiper's deployment schedule.
Furthermore, Amazon recently extended its contract with Blue Origin, bringing the total number of acquired New Glenn launches to 25. These, combined with the 10 Falcon 9 launches secured in December and previous agreements, mean Amazon has now acquired over 100 launches for its Kuiper constellation. The recent Atlas V mission represents only the ninth of these planned deployments.
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