Arianespace paused Ariane 6 flights over a turbopump anomaly; ULA's Vulcan and Blue Origin's New Glenn are also grounded. Amazon has fewer than 400 of 3,236 Leo satellites in orbit and must deploy all by July 2029 to get permission to start service.
The FCC originally required Amazon to put at least half of its 3,236-satellite constellation—1,618 satellites—in orbit by July 2026. Amazon fell short, but the agency waived that milestone in June; it now needs all 3,236 in orbit by July 2029 to get permission to begin service.
Amazon had completed seven Leo launches in 2026—four on ULA's Atlas V and three on Ariane 6. One launch each on Vulcan, New Glenn and Ariane 6 remained technically scheduled for the year; six additional Ariane 6 launches announced earlier in September were intended to offset ULA and Blue Origin's stoppages. Vulcan has not flown since anomalies in October 2024 and February 2026; New Glenn's May 2026 preflight explosion destroyed the rocket and launch pad, which is being rebuilt, although the FAA has cleared another attempt.
