Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite-internet initiative designed to provide broadband access to regions that lack reliable connectivity. The new name “Leo” refers directly to low Earth orbit (LEO), the orbital regime where the constellation operates. The system will use a constellation of more than 3,000 satellites operating about 590–630 kilometers (366–391 miles) above Earth, supported by gateway ground stations and global fiber infrastructure. Its goal is to serve unserved and underserved populations, including individuals, schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies in remote or infrastructure-limited areas. Development began in 2018 and received FCC approval in 2020. The first two prototype satellites launched in October 2023, and Amazon has since deployed more than 150 operational satellites as part of early constellation build-out.

Amazon Leo is managed by Amazon’s Devices and Services division, with satellites manufactured in Kirkland, Washington, and launch integration handled at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Amazon has secured more than 80 launch missions with ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX. SpaceX, which operates Starlink, is one of Amazon Leo’s direct competitors in the satellite-internet market. FCC regulations require Amazon to place at least half of its constellation in orbit by July 2026 and complete deployment by July 2029. The satellites incorporate optical inter-satellite laser links to increase throughput and reduce latency.

To reach customers, Amazon Leo uses three categories of user terminals: the compact Leo Nano offering speeds around 100 Mbps; the mid-range Leo Pro supporting roughly 400 Mbps; and the enterprise-grade Leo Ultra, capable of up to 1 Gbps. Amazon plans limited service availability for select enterprise users by late 2025, expanding in 2026 as more satellites reach orbit. The spacecraft are designed with debris-mitigation and astronomical-impact-reduction measures, including controlled deorbiting procedures and brightness-management practices.

Courtesy of Amazon.

The Atlas V is the workhorse of United Launch Alliance's rocket fleet, combining Russian and American technology. It utilizes the Russian RD-180 engine on its first stage and is known for its versatility, offering 20 possible configurations—though only 10 have flown. Developed in the mid-to-late 1990s, the Atlas V is the fifth and final iteration of the veteran Atlas rocket family, which began its service in 1957. Lockheed Martin designed and built the Atlas V as part of the U.S. government's 1994 Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, aimed at supporting national security missions. The merger of Lockheed Martin's Atlas V and Boeing's Delta IV in 2006 created United Launch Alliance (ULA), which dominated the U.S. government launch market for over a decade.

Specs

Height: Up to 58.3 m (191 ft)

Diameter: 3.81 m (12.5 ft)

Mass: 590,000 kg (1,300,000 lb)

Stages: 2

The Atlas V's price has fluctuated significantly over the years. For example, a basic Atlas V 401 (featuring no boosters and a single-engine Centaur second stage) cost anywhere from the high-$90 million range to $163 million in the 2000s and early 2010s. However, with the rise of SpaceX as a competitor in the 2010s, significant price reductions followed. Although it is not the cheapest rocket on the market, the Atlas V has maintained an unmatched success rate, achieving a 100% mission success record. It is being phased out in favor of the Vulcan rocket, with full replacement expected by the late 2020s.

The Atlas V 551 variant features a five-meter payload fairing (5), five side-mounted solid rocket boosters (5), and a single-engine Centaur upper stage (1). One of its most notable missions occurred in January 2006, when it launched the New Horizons probe on its journey to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.

Photo courtesy of ULA.

Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) is a significant launch site located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) in Florida. Originally built in the 1960s, SLC-41 was designed to support the Titan III and Titan IV rocket programs. Throughout its history, the pad has been used for various missions, including the deployment of military and reconnaissance satellites. A notable launch from SLC-41 was the Cassini spacecraft mission, which began its journey to Saturn in 1997.

In the early 2000s, SLC-41 was repurposed to support the Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA). This transition involved extensive upgrades to the pad’s infrastructure and the installation of new ground support equipment to accommodate the Atlas V. These modifications ensured that SLC-41 could meet the requirements of modern space missions.

Under ULA’s management, SLC-41 has hosted a range of important launches, including the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which successfully landed the Curiosity rover on Mars in August 2012, and the launch of GPS III satellites, enhancing global positioning capabilities. The pad has also supported Boeing's CST-100 Starliner capsule, which is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Starliner capsule, designed to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station, has been launched from SLC-41 to support crewed missions.

Looking to the future, SLC-41 is set to support ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket. The Vulcan Centaur is intended to replace the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, marking a new era in ULA’s launch capabilities with enhanced performance and cost-efficiency. The pad’s infrastructure will be further updated to accommodate this next-generation rocket.