Launches / Atlas V 551

Past launch Launched successfully

Amazon Leo (KA-02)

Atlas V 551, flown by United Launch Alliance

Atlas V 551 lifting off with the Amazon Leo (KA-02) mission
Image via The Space Devs.

This was United Launch Alliance's 2nd launch of 2025, and its 166th in all.

Counting every operator, it was the 138th orbital launch attempt anywhere in 2025, and the second from Space Launch Complex 41.

Launched
Monday, June 23, 2025, 10:54 a.m. UTC
Window
Monday, June 23, 2025, 10:54 to 11:23 a.m. UTC
Launch site
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket
Atlas V 551
Operator
United Launch Alliance
Weather
85% favorableCumulus cloud rule

Watch the webcast →

The mission

Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access, this constellation will be managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. This constellation is planned to be composed of 3,276 satellites. The satellites are projected to be placed in 98 orbital planes in three orbital layers, one at 590 km, 610 km and 630 km altitude. 27 satellites are carried on this launch.

Type
Communications
Destination
Low Earth orbit
Program
Amazon Leo

Amazon Leo is a satellite internet constellation aimed at providing high-speed, low-latency broadband connectivity to underserved and remote areas globally. The project involves deploying a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to create a satellite internet network capable of delivering reliable internet access.

en.wikipedia.org →

The rocket

Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Boeing. Each Atlas V rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage. The RD-180 engines are provided by RD Amross, while Aerojet Rocketdyne provides both the RL10 engines and the strap-on boosters used in some configurations. The standard payload fairing sizes are 4 or 5 meters in diameter and of various lengths. Fairings sizes as large as 7.2 m in diameter and up to 32.3 m in length have been considered. The rocket is assembled in Decatur, Alabama and Harlingen, Texas.

Height
59.7 m
Built by
United Launch Alliance
First flew
January 19, 2006
Lifts to low Earth orbit
18,850 kg
View 5 specifications Show less
Lifts to geostationary transfer
8,890 kg
Diameter
3.8 m
Mass at liftoff
573 t
Thrust at liftoff
12,269 kN
Stages
1 to 2

23 flights, 23 of them successful.

Wikipedia →

The operator

United Launch Alliance

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.

Sector
Commercial
Based in
USA
Founded
2006
Run by
John Elbon, Interim CEO

175 launches so far, 175 of them successful. The last 175 in a row went to plan.

ulalaunch.com → Wikipedia →

The launch site

It went up from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.

See the pad on a map →

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