Vulcan rocket failure destroys 40 Amazon satellites

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket mission ended in failure today, resulting in the loss of 40 Amazon Leo satellites. The incident marks the first mission failure for the company in its 20-year history.

This flight was intended to be the first of 38 launches secured by Amazon from ULA. The project, known as Leo, serves as Amazon's rival to SpaceX's Starlink but has faced difficulties deploying its satellite constellation.

According to a statement on X, ULA confirmed that the rocket, which departed from Space Launch Complex 41, experienced an anomaly 10 minutes after lift-off. The company stated that the vehicle was unable to place the Amazon mission into orbit.

While the cause of the failure remains unknown, ULA has promised to remain transparent throughout the investigation. Amazon expressed continued support for its partner on X, noting, “ There is risk with any launch, and that’s especially true for inaugural missions like LV-01. ULA has been a trusted partner for Amazon, and we believe they’ll learn from this mission and deliver on their long-term plans for Vulcan.”