Arianespace launched the most powerful configuration of its Ariane 6 vehicle for the first time. The rocket lifted off at the start of a 28-minute window opening on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 16:45 UTC, from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The four-booster Ariane 64 variant carried 32 satellites to orbit for Amazon’s Leo constellation of internet satellites, formerly known as Kuiper.
In addition to being the inaugural flight of the Ariane 64 variant, this mission marked several other firsts. Named Leo Europe 01 (LE-01) by Amazon and designated VA267 by Arianespace, the flight was the first to launch Amazon Leo satellites on a European rocket and the first Ariane 6 launch for a commercial customer. Moreover, the mission introduced the rocket’s elongated fairing.