The Ariane 6 rocket, Europe's next-generation heavy lifter, launched its heaviest payload yet Wednesday from the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The mission, designated Leo Europe 03, carried 36 broadband satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper constellation into low Earth orbit.
Arianespace's upgraded booster features more powerful engines and an extended upper stage compared to earlier Ariane 6 variants. The payload mass of approximately 18 metric tons set a new record for the European launcher, according to the European Space Agency.
The launch window opened at 8:53 a.m. local time (7:53 a.m. EDT). This mission had been years in development, with Amazon relying on multiple rocket providers for its Kuiper deployment. Among the large new vehicles Amazon contracted, only Europe delivered on schedule.
Project Kuiper aims to compete with SpaceX's Starlink in providing global satellite internet coverage. This batch of satellites adds to the growing constellation, which requires hundreds of spacecraft to begin offering commercial service.
Financial terms of the launch contract were not disclosed, though industry analysts estimate each Ariane 6 mission costs around €100 million. The success of this flight strengthens Europe's position in the commercial launch market at a time when competition with SpaceX is intensifying.