Upcoming Launch Will Add 32 Satellites to Amazon Leo Constellation
Rocket Components ‘Out for Delivery’ Aboard Hybrid-Powered Cargo Ship
Another 32 satellites are slated to ride to low Earth orbit on an upcoming Ariane 6 launch, marking the first heavy‑lift launch on Amazon Leo’s 2026 manifest. In preparation for the launch, the Arianespace hybrid industrial cargo ship Canopée, departed from Bordeaux, France, earlier this month transporting essential components of the Ariane 6 rocket for its first Amazon mission currently slated for February 12.
“Adding a heavy-lift rocket like Ariane 6 to the manifest will allow us to deploy more satellites at a time and help accelerate deployment plans for Amazon Leo.”
Rajeev Badyal, Amazon Leo
The maritime journey marks a significant step forward for the Amazon-Arianespace partnership, a historic multi-launch agreement to deploy satellites for Amazon Leo’s constellation. The mission, designated LE-01, is the first of 18 planned launches with the European launch provider, and represents progress toward Amazon Leo’s long-term mission of delivering fast, reliable internet to customers beyond the reach of existing networks.
“We already have six successful Amazon Leo missions under our belt, and seeing Canopée depart with Ariane 6 brings us one step closer to our first launch with Arianespace,” said Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Amazon Leo. “Adding a heavy-lift rocket like Ariane 6 to the manifest will allow us to deploy more satellites at a time and help accelerate deployment plans for Amazon Leo—we look forward to continuing to work with the Arianespace team as we prepare for that inaugural mission and subsequent launches on Ariane 6.”
The agreement with Arianespace includes multiple launches on the next-generation Ariane 6 rocket, providing Amazon Leo with the reliable, high-capacity launch capability essential for the ongoing deployment of its satellite network. This partnership also represents a significant investment in Europe’s space industry.
According to a recent Oxford Economics report, Amazon Leo’s activities will contribute an estimated €2.8 billion (≈$3.28 billion) to the EU GDP between 2022 and 2029 and support an average of 3,270 jobs annually across the region. In France alone, Amazon Leo’s launch partnerships will support a cumulative €1.38 billion (≈$1.62 billion) contribution to GDP and sustain an average of 1,590 jobs through 2029. “This collaboration reflects Amazon’s long-standing commitment to France, where we have invested more than €30 billion since 2010 and created 25,000 permanent jobs,” said Frédéric Duval, country manager, amazon.fr. “Our partnership with Arianespace represents not just the next chapter in space innovation, but a significant contribution to France’s economy and technological leadership. By working together with French expertise in space launch technology, we’re building connections that will benefit communities across Europe and around the world.”
For Arianespace, Amazon’s commitment has provided crucial commercial backing for the Ariane 6 program, which represents the future of independent European access to space. “This mission will mark the first of 18 launches we will conduct for Amazon Leo,” said David Cavaillolès, Arianespace CEO. “Canopée is now beginning a tour of several European ports to load the Ariane 6 stages and components before heading to French Guiana, where the launch campaign will truly begin. Once the vessel arrives, our teams will offload the Ariane 6, bring it to Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, and expertly integrate the Amazon Leo payloads with the launch vehicle. We are honored and excited to support Amazon’s vision and to help expand access to reliable internet worldwide.”
The Canopée vessel embodies the innovation and sustainability focus shared by both companies. Purpose-built to transport Ariane 6 components, the 397-foot (121-meter) ship features a unique hybrid propulsion system that combines traditional engines with four articulated wing sails rising 121 feet (37 meters) above the deck. This revolutionary “Oceanwings” system can reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 35% in optimal sailing conditions.
While Canopée makes its ocean crossing, the Amazon Leo team has already begun shipping satellites to the launch site. Amazon has deployed more than 150 satellites to date, and the LE-01 mission will add 32 more to the constellation. Each satellite is built at Amazon’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Kirkland, Washington, and shipped to a dedicated processing facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida, before traveling onward to Arianespace launch facilities in French Guiana.
This is genuinely exiciting! The shift to heavy-lift like Ariane 6 is a game changer for Amazon Leo's deployment schedule. I dunno if anyone else caught it but that Canopée hybrid ship is kinda brilliant—cutting emissions by 35% while hauling rocket parts. It's refreshing when space logistics actually cares about enviromental impact beyond just the launch itself.