SpaceX is set to launch more Amazon satellites on Friday after a scrubbed attempt on Thursday. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 satellites will attempt to reach orbit during a 25-minute window that opens at 9:40 a.m.
The launch comes just over three weeks since SpaceX flew its first of three contracted flights for Amazon, with the majority of the company’s missions contracted out to United Launch Alliance (ULA). ULA has flown several Atlas V missions this year, but delays have forced Amazon to seek assistance from SpaceX.
SpaceX will likely knock out its third launch for Amazon as soon as more satellites are prepared at Amazon’s processing facility. The company is capable of manufacturing five satellites a day, and the final prep site can prepare satellites for three launches concurrently.
With the latest launch, the total number of operational satellites in space will reach 102. SpaceX’s final contracted mission would bring the total number to only 288, meaning Amazon would need another 1,330 flown to reach the halfway threshold.
Amazon has secured contracts with several launch providers, including ULA and Blue Origin. However, delays have forced Amazon to seek assistance from SpaceX, which will likely continue to provide launches until Amazon reaches its target of 3,236 satellites.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-08-spacex-thursday-aim-friday-amazon.html