Amazon set to launch Leo, its rival to SpaceX's Starlink internet, later this year

Published on

03/07/2026 - 13:54 GMT+2

Amazon says it now has enough satellites in orbit to begin commercial operations of its Leo internet-from-space service later this year, marking the most significant milestone yet in its bid to challenge SpaceX's Starlink.

The company launched 29 satellites aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket in the early hours of Thursday, bringing its total constellation to more than 390 satellites.

That is "enough to support continuous service across initial latitudes," Chris Weber, vice president of business and product for Amazon Leo, said in a post on X.

Amazon announced its satellite internet project in 2019 and rebranded it as Amazon Leo in November 2025.

The company aims to build a constellation of roughly 3,236 satellites, though deployment has been hampered by a shortage of rocket capacity and a series of launch setbacks.

The most serious came on 28 May, when a New Glenn rocket owned by Blue Origin, founded by Amazon executive chairman Jeff Bezos, exploded during a hot-fire ground test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The rocket had been due to carry 48 Amazon Leo satellites into orbit. Amazon said its satellites were never integrated with the rocket and remain secure at its processing facility.

Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said the company is working to return New Glenn to flight this year, using a redesigned launch configuration rather than rebuilding the damaged pad.

Amazon says its broader launch plans remain on track. Its next Leo mission will use ULA's Vulcan heavy-lift rocket, which can carry larger payloads and is expected to accelerate the deployment rate.

The company faces stiff competition from SpaceX's Starlink, which has a substantial head start. Starlink has more than 10,400 active satellites in orbit and Amazon Leo currently ranks as the third-largest constellation, behind Starlink and OneWeb's roughly 650 satellites.

Amazon opened Leo beta access to enterprise customers in November and is targeting a full commercial launch in the third quarter of this year.