A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket carrying 40 Amazon Leo internet satellites suffered an in-flight anomaly 10 minutes after lifting off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday.
The heavy-lift vehicle launched from Space Launch Complex 41 at 12:40 p.m. ET. It generated nearly 3.8 million pounds of thrust from two methane-fueled BE-4 main engines provided by Blue Origin and six strap-on solid rocket boosters built by Northrop Grumman. The payload weighed nearly 53,000 pounds, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Based on data received by our Launch Director, we confirm that the Vulcan vehicle launched from Space Launch Complex 41 suffered an anomaly 10 minutes into the flight and failed to deliver the Amazon mission to orbit. Every flight generates data, and every flight teaches us…
The mission marked the first flight for the heavy-lift vehicle in nine months following a grounding prompted by an issue with a solid rocket booster during the USSF-87 mission on February 12.
One of four solid boosters suffered a nozzle burn-through roughly 20 seconds after liftoff on that flight. The vehicle made its debut in January 2024, completing four total flights before the November 15 attempt. ULA is a joint venture formed by Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. in 2006.
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket carrying the Amazon Leo 1 mission is delayed due to a power interruption in the Air Liquide gaseous nitrogen (GN2) plant which resulted in the loss of their high-pressure pumps. Without confirmation of sustained commodity flow,… pic.twitter.com/e6fHPwG6LO
Rocket Suffers Setback on Flight
The mission was intended to serve as a bounce-back flight for the Vulcan Centaur following a nine-month grounding. The U.S. Space Force paused national security flights on the rocket in February after its fourth mission experienced a nozzle burn-through on one of its solid rocket boosters.
ULA implemented design and process improvements to the nozzle before attempting Saturday’s flight, which faced initial delays due to a nitrogen plant power interruption and a network communication issue.
Multiple sources say the anomaly that impacted today's Vulcan launch occurred in the booster stage, not the Centaur V upper stage or SRBs. I don't yet know if the booster stage issue was caused by the BE-4 engines, the propellant management system, or another problem.
The launch attempt originally scheduled for Friday was called off after an Air Liquide gaseous nitrogen plant suffered a power interruption that cut deliveries to Space Launch Complex 41.
A network communication issue between ground equipment further postponed the countdown before the final sequence proceeded on Sunday. The launch marked the 61st orbital rocket liftoff of the year from Florida’s Space Coast, spanning Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and neighboring NASA Kennedy Space Center facilities.
And LIFTOFF of the first Vulcan Amazon Leo mission, carrying 40 broadband satellites to low Earth orbit! pic.twitter.com/dv1MSjJUMF
“Based on data received by our Launch Director, we confirm that the Vulcan vehicle launched from Space Launch Complex 41 suffered an anomaly 10 minutes into the flight and failed to deliver the Amazon mission to orbit,” United Launch Alliance said in a statement reported by Space.
“Every flight generates data, and every flight teaches us something. Since the anomaly just occurred, we don’t have any specific data yet to understand what occurred today,” ULA said in an emailed release covered by the Orlando Sentinel.
Loss Hits Amazon Constellation
The lost cargo comprised the first of 38 dedicated launches bought from ULA to build out Amazon’s low Earth orbit broadband network, previously known as Project Kuiper. Amazon has secured approval from the Federal Communications Commission to deploy more than 7,700 satellites, with a regulatory deadline to finish the network by July 2029, as reported by mint.
Amazon had launched nearly 400 satellites across 14 missions since April 2025 using Atlas V, Falcon 9, and Ariane 6 rockets. The e-commerce enterprise completed manufacturing its 1,000th satellite in September. The company constructed dedicated infrastructure at Cape Canaveral for the Vulcan program, including the VIF-A Vertical Integration Facility and a mobile launch platform.
United Launch Alliance plans to launch 40 Amazon internet satellites from Cape Canaveral tomorrow, helping expand access to communities beyond the reach of existing networks. Florida’s Space Coast keeps America leading in space. I’m proud of the skilled workers and engineers…
“Larger rockets and more frequent launches are critical to scaling our constellation and getting service to customers, and the Vulcan program is designed to deliver on both dimensions,” said Melissa Wuerl, director of launch systems for Amazon Leo, in reporting highlighted by Via Satellite.
“The team at @NASA is available to assist in all matters related to the investigation and remediation effort. Artemis, Moon Base, and the nation need ULA. We are in your corner and here to help,” NASA posted on X, as detailed by CBS News.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman offered assistance from the agency for the investigation and remediation effort. “We are going to be transparent and share what we find out as soon as we can so we can get back to flying safely for our customers,” ULA said.
Earlier coverage: ULA Vulcan Fails to Deliver Amazon Satellites After 10-Minute Flight
