Vulcan rocket fails, destroying 40 Amazon Leo satellites

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="ULA Vulcan rocket lifts off on November 15, 2026, carrying 40 Amazon Leo broadband satellites. | Photo: Manuel Mazzanti / NurPhoto via Getty Images" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Manuel Mazzanti / NurPhoto via Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/11/gettyimages-2304790934.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> ULA Vulcan rocket lifts off on November 15, 2026, carrying 40 Amazon Leo broadband satellites. | Photo: Manuel Mazzanti / NurPhoto via Getty Images </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">United Launch Alliance (ULA) suffered what is <a href="https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/11/15/ula-suffers-first-total-mission-failure-with-loss-of-vulcan-rocket-carrying-40-amazon-leo-satellites/">reportedly its first mission failure</a> in its 20-year history, failing to deliver 40 Amazon Leo satellites to orbit. Leo is Amazon's competitor to SpaceX's Starlink, but it has <a href="https://www.theverge.com/science/1001259/spacex-starlink-satellites-starship-amazon-leo">struggled to get off the ground</a> so far, putting only a small portion of the necessary satellites to challenge Starlink into orbit. Today's launch was supposed to be the first of 38 flights Amazon purchased from ULA.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a statement <a href="https://x.com/ulalaunch/status/2122034531658076417">posted on X</a>, ULA said, "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 f …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/science/1034006/vulcan-rocket-fails-destroying-40-amazon-leo-satellites">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>