Vulcan rocket mishap: United Launch Alliance loses 40 Amazon internet satellites, disrupting Leo plans
Amazon’s Vulcan launch plans
Sunday’s flight was the first of 38 Vulcan launches Amazon purchased for its Leo satellites. The network is intended to compete directly with Elon Musk’s Starlink and other satellite internet providers. ULA has already conducted eight Leo launches using Atlas 5 rockets.
Amazon Leo said inaugural flights carry risk and called ULA a trusted partner. The company said it expects ULA to learn from the mission and fulfill its longer-term plans for Vulcan.
Investigation and engine history
ULA said it would work with its customer and other organizations to determine the cause, decide on corrective action and return to flight. The company said customers would have visibility into an investigation using what it described as rigorous methods.
Earlier delays and booster concerns
ULA had also spent months addressing strap-on booster nozzle problems seen on two earlier flights, one in 2024 and another this past February. The U.S. Space Force paused Vulcan launches carrying national security payloads while it conducted further analysis, although ULA remained free to proceed with commercial flights.
Key points
- The Vulcan malfunction destroyed its payload of 40 Amazon Leo satellites.
- This was United Launch Alliance’s first outright rocket failure since its formation in 2006.
- The mission was the first of 38 Vulcan flights Amazon purchased for Leo satellites.
- The cause of Sunday’s failure has not been publicly determined.