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ULA Atlas V Amazon Leo launch & Ariane 6 launches Amazon satellites - Space News (Apr 28, 2026)
Published 4 weeks, 1 day ago
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Episode Transcript
ULA Atlas V Amazon Leo launch
Let's start with the internet satellites. Yesterday was a big day for connectivity in orbit. United Launch Alliance sent up an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral carrying 29 Amazon Leo internet satellites. The launch went smoothly, and now those satellites are in their proper orbits. This brings Amazon's total constellation to 270 operational satellites. What makes this particularly impressive is that ULA actually set a new company record for turnaround time at Launch Complex 41. They launched just 23 days after their previous mission from the same pad, beating their own record by nearly three days.
Ariane 6 launches Amazon satellites
But the satellite launches didn't stop there. On the same day, Arianespace rolled out another Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana, and this one was carrying 32 more Amazon Leo satellites. We're talking about a massive effort to build out this global internet constellation. The Ariane 6 in its heavy configuration with four solid rocket boosters lifted off successfully, deploying all 32 satellites into low Earth orbit. This is the second dedicated Ariane mission for Amazon's constellation, and it shows how multiple launch providers are working together to make this mega-constellation a reality.
Progress cargo arrives at ISS
While all this satellite activity was happening, there was also cargo drama unfolding. A Russian Progress spacecraft docked with the International Space Station, delivering nearly three tons of supplies to the crew orbiting Earth. The Progress MS-34, also known as Progress 95, launched a couple of days earlier and finally rendezvoused with the station. Everything went according to plan, and now the ISS has fresh provisions for the weeks ahead.
Asteroid flyby Earth safe distance
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Today's topics:
ULA Atlas V Amazon Leo launch - ULA successfully deployed 29 Amazon Leo internet satellites to low Earth orbit on Atlas V, bringing the constellation to 270 operational satellites and setting a new turnaround record at Cape Canaveral.
Ariane 6 launches Amazon satellites - Ariane 6 launched 32 Amazon Leo satellites in its heavy configuration from French Guiana, marking the second dedicated Ariane mission for the Amazon constellation deployment series.
Progress cargo arrives at ISS - Roscosmos Progress MS-34 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station, delivering nearly three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the orbiting laboratory.
Asteroid flyby Earth safe distance - Two airplane-sized asteroids, 2026 HJ3 and 2026 HR, safely passed Earth at distances of 3.86 and 3.95 million miles respectively with zero impact risk.
Falcon Heavy launch postponed weather - SpaceX scrubbed its first Falcon Heavy launch in eighteen months due to poor weather conditions, with the ViaSat-3 F3 communications satellite mission postponed to a backup date.
Episode Transcript
ULA Atlas V Amazon Leo launch
Let's start with the internet satellites. Yesterday was a big day for connectivity in orbit. United Launch Alliance sent up an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral carrying 29 Amazon Leo internet satellites. The launch went smoothly, and now those satellites are in their proper orbits. This brings Amazon's total constellation to 270 operational satellites. What makes this particularly impressive is that ULA actually set a new company record for turnaround time at Launch Complex 41. They launched just 23 days after their previous mission from the same pad, beating their own record by nearly three days.
Ariane 6 launches Amazon satellites
But the satellite launches didn't stop there. On the same day, Arianespace rolled out another Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana, and this one was carrying 32 more Amazon Leo satellites. We're talking about a massive effort to build out this global internet constellation. The Ariane 6 in its heavy configuration with four solid rocket boosters lifted off successfully, deploying all 32 satellites into low Earth orbit. This is the second dedicated Ariane mission for Amazon's constellation, and it shows how multiple launch providers are working together to make this mega-constellation a reality.
Progress cargo arrives at ISS
While all this satellite activity was happening, there was also cargo drama unfolding. A Russian Progress spacecraft docked with the International Space Station, delivering nearly three tons of supplies to the crew orbiting Earth. The Progress MS-34, also known as Progress 95, launched a couple of days earlier and finally rendezvoused with the station. Everything went according to plan, and now the ISS has fresh provisions for the weeks ahead.
Asteroid flyby Earth safe distance
Now, if you've been paying attention to