Current Satellite Count
As of mid-2026, Amazon Leo has 329+ production satellites in orbit, deployed across 11 missions since full-scale operations began in April 2025. This makes it the third-largest satellite constellation in orbit, behind SpaceX Starlink (10,460+ active) and OneWeb (~600). Amazon completed 11 launches in its first year of deployment — roughly one per month — using ULA Atlas V, SpaceX Falcon 9 and Arianespace Ariane 6 rockets.
How Many Satellites Will Amazon Launch?
| Phase | Satellites | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gen1 — Phase 1 | 578 | In progress — minimum for initial service |
| Gen1 — 50% FCC deadline | 1,618 | Due July 30, 2026 — extension requested |
| Gen1 — Full constellation | 3,236 | Due July 30, 2029 |
| Gen2 expansion (FCC approved Jan 2026) | 4,500 | 50% by Feb 2032, 100% by Feb 2035 |
| Total planned | 7,727 | Across Gen1 + Gen2 |
FCC Deployment Deadline
Amazon's FCC licence requires 1,618 satellites (50% of Gen1) in orbit by July 30, 2026, and the full 3,236 by July 30, 2029. With approximately 329 satellites launched and fewer than three months remaining, Amazon has requested a deadline extension. Launch vehicle availability challenges — particularly delays with Blue Origin's New Glenn and ULA's transition from Atlas V to Vulcan Centaur — have constrained the deployment cadence. Track the deadline countdown live on our Amazon Leo Tracker.
Launch Missions to Date
| Mission | Date | Rocket | Satellites |
|---|---|---|---|
| KA-01 | 28 Apr 2025 | Atlas V 551 | 27 |
| KA-02 | 23 Jun 2025 | Atlas V 551 | 27 |
| KF-01 | 16 Jul 2025 | Falcon 9 | 24 |
| KF-02 | 11 Aug 2025 | Falcon 9 | 24 |
| KA-03 | Sep 2025 | Atlas V 551 | 27 |
| KF-03 | 13 Oct 2025 | Falcon 9 | 24 |
| LA-04 | 16 Dec 2025 | Atlas V 551 | 27 |
| LE-01 | 12 Feb 2026 | Ariane 64 | 32 |
| LA-05 | 4 Apr 2026 | Atlas V 551 | 29 |
| LA-06 | 27 Apr 2026 | Atlas V 551 | 29 |
| LE-02 | 30 Apr 2026 | Ariane 64 | 32 |
Amazon plans to more than double its annual launch rate in year two, targeting 20+ missions in 2026 and 30+ in 2027. The full deployment requires 80+ launches — the largest commercial launch procurement in history — using five different rocket families. See the full Kuiper launch schedule for upcoming missions and vehicle assignments.
Amazon Leo vs Starlink — Constellation Size
| Metric | Starlink | Amazon Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Active satellites | 10,460+ | 329+ |
| Authorised (Gen1) | 12,000 | 3,236 |
| Total planned | 42,000 | 7,727 |
| Orbital altitude | 340–570 km | 590–630 km |
| Launch rate (2026) | ~130/year | ~20/year (ramping) |
For a full feature comparison including speeds, latency, pricing and customer terminals, see Starlink vs Amazon Leo. China is also deploying rival constellations — Guowang & Qianfan have launched 350+ satellites combined.
Orbital Architecture
Amazon Leo distributes satellites across three orbital shells at 590 km, 610 km and 630 km altitude — all in LEO. The multi-shell design provides layered coverage across 98 orbital planes. Each satellite uses optical inter-satellite links (OISL) capable of 100 Gbps laser communication, creating a mesh network that reduces dependency on ground stations. The custom Prometheus baseband chip enables up to 1 Tbps throughput per satellite.
When Will Service Begin?
Amazon needs at least 578 satellites (Phase 1) in orbit before consumer service can start. With 329+ launched, the company is targeting a limited beta in the US, UK, France, Germany and Canada in late 2026 or early 2027. A public waitlist is open at leo.amazon.com. See our Kuiper availability guide for country-by-country coverage timelines and partnership details.