European launch services provider Arianespace has successfully launched a second mission for Amazon, deploying 32 satellites for the company’s Amazon LEO constellation aboard an Ariane 6 rocket.
The rocket, launched in its Ariane 64 configuration that features four solid-fuel boosters, lifted off at 08:57 UTC from the ELA-4 Launch Complex. The first of the 32 satellites was separated from the rocket’s upper stage just under an hour and a half after liftoff. All 32 satellites were deployed over 12 separation events lasting roughly 25 minutes in total.
As with the first mission Arianespace launched on behalf of Amazon in February, all 32 satellites were deployed into low Earth orbit at an altitude of between 450 and 470 kilometres. After the first launch, SpaceX sent a complaint to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), alleging that the company exceeded the authorised target orbit of 400 kilometres in altitude.
In response to the allegations, Amazon stated that FCC personnel were aware of the change and that SpaceX had not raised its concerns when it deployed Amazon satellites into a similar orbit aboard its Falcon 9 rocket. Nonetheless, the company added that it was working on “significant operational changes” and would move to lower its target insertion altitude beginning with its fourth flight with Arianespace.
Arianespace has been contracted by Amazon to carry out a total of 18 missions supporting the deployment of its satellite constellation, which is intended to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink global broadband network. Arianespace has indicated that it plans to launch up to eight Ariane 6 flights in 2026, a significant portion of which will be dedicated to working through its backlog for Amazon.
Rebuilding Arianespace
In 2026, Arianespace is seeking to stabilise its financial position after accumulating losses of €372 million by the end of 2025. In December, the company launched a recapitalisation process that reduced its share capital to zero in order to absorb losses and cancelled all 37,206,901 existing shares. It then immediately carried out a €200,020,000 capital increase through the issuance of 10,001 new shares, fully subscribed by ArianeGroup. The transaction resulted in the exit or dilution of minority shareholders and made Arianespace a wholly owned subsidiary of ArianeGroup.
While its recapitalisation efforts will have provided short-term relief, Arianespace will now need to accelerate its commercial activity to reverse its financial decline**, which** saw revenues drop from €1.4 billion in 2015 to €152 million in 2024. This decline reflects a decade of compounding setbacks, including the retirement of the Ariane 5, the delay in the introduction of Ariane 6, the rise of SpaceX as the dominant commercial launch provider, and the repeated failures of the Vega-C rocket, which grounded it for nearly two years. With Ariane 6 now having six consecutive successful operational flights under its belt, the company will be hoping the rocket can provide the reliability needed to rebuild customer confidence and restore launch cadence.
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