Ariane 6 lifts 36 Amazon Leo satellites, setting a new payload record

An Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou launched on June 17 with 36 Amazon Leo broadband satellites—the heaviest payload ever lofted by an Ariane launcher and the 100th Amazon Leo satellite—advancing Amazon’s planned low‑Earth‑orbit megaconstellation. The upgraded four P160C solid-rocket boosters boosted the launcher’s capacity by more than two tons, with the 36 satellites weighing about 45,900 pounds (roughly 20,820 kg) in total. Deployment is expected about 289 miles (465 km) up, roughly 1 hour 51 minutes after liftoff. This was Ariane 6’s eighth flight and Amazon Leo’s 14th launch overall, though SpaceX’s Starlink remains far larger in total satellites.