Earth-orbit broadband is getting bigger, faster, and more ambitious than ever—and the numbers behind it are eye-opening. United Launch Alliance (ULA) is set to lift a fresh batch of Amazon’s Project Leo satellites on Monday morning, Dec. 15, aboard an Atlas V rocket. If you stay up late or wake early, you can watch the live action online.
Project Leo, previously known as Kuiper, is Amazon’s plan to build a global satellite internet network in low Earth orbit (LEO). The giant constellation aims to reach roughly 3,200 satellites, with each mission propelling dozens of craft toward orbit as part of more than 80 launches planned across multiple rocket families. To date, six missions have carried 153 Leo satellites into space (this count excludes a prior October 2023 test mission that lofted two prototype satellites).
Monday’s launch will mark the fourth Leo mission for the Atlas V—a long-standing, highly trusted rocket first flown in 2002. ULA is transitioning to a newer vehicle, the Vulcan Centaur, which has already completed three missions.
When fully operational, Project Leo intends to deliver global internet connectivity, positioning itself as a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation, which already maintains service with more than 9,000 satellites in orbit and continues to expand. SpaceX’s activity is prolific in 2025, with over 3,000 Starlink satellites launched this year alone.
In a notable collaboration within the spaceflight industry, SpaceX is assisting with Leo’s development. Amazon has selected several launch vehicles for the Leo program, including SpaceX’s Falcon 9, Arianespace’s Ariane 6, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, along with ULA’s Atlas V and the forthcoming Vulcan Centaur.
Michael Wall, Space.com’s Senior Space Writer since 2010, covers spaceflight, exoplanets, and military space, and occasionally space-art topics. His book on the search for alien life, “Out There,” was published in 2018. He holds a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, an undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from UC Santa Cruz. You can follow his latest projects on Twitter.
