Amazon adds six launch orders to European Arianespace total reaching 24
Amazon has ordered six more rocket launches from Arianespace, bringing its total bookings to 24. The deal strengthens European commercial space capabilities.
Amazon recently placed orders for six additional launches with Europe's Arianespace. These contracts aim to support a new satellite network designed to compete directly with SpaceX's Starlink service. The announcement was made during an International Space Summit in Paris on Wednesday, marking a significant commercial victory for the continent's space industry. Total bookings from Amazon now stand at 24, representing long-term commitments essential for deploying critical space infrastructure. David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, noted that such corporate agreements provide the necessary capacity for European deployment efforts.
ArianeGroup, which manages the rocket operations under this program, operates as a joint venture between Airbus and Safran. This commercial support occurs alongside broader government initiatives to enhance sovereign space capabilities. Several European private entities, including Isar Aerospace and The Exploration Company, are also expanding funding by hundreds of millions of euros.
Political coordination remains complicated during the event. Co-hosted by France and Germany, the summit featured an absence of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Furthermore, prominent U.S. space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin reportedly withdrew from the gathering due to concerns regarding European policy directives. The U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy conducted separate discussions with industry representatives regarding these policy implications.
