Live updates from Amazon Leo mission in Florida
Florida Today • • science
Key Points:
- United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched an Atlas V rocket on April 27, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit.
- Liftoff occurred at 8:53 p.m. ET with the rocket ascending northeast, supported by five side-mounted solid rocket boosters which jettisoned approximately 1 minute 50 seconds after launch.
- Weather conditions were favorable with an 80% chance of launch success, aided by dry air suppressing thunderstorms despite some cumulus clouds; no sonic booms were expected in Central Florida.
- The Centaur upper stage performed well during its single burn, with telemetry confirming good performance as the rocket passed over Halifax, Nova Scotia at speeds exceeding 12,000 mph.
- This launch marked the 30th orbital rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast in 2026, and ULA utilized a single-day "roll-and-launch" strategy to increase launch cadence for Amazon Leo missions.
