A Vulcan rocket operated by United Launch Alliance failed about 10 minutes after launching from Florida, destroying its payload of 40 satellites for Amazon’s Leo internet network.
The incident marked the first mission failure for ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. It also dealt a setback to the company’s flagship rocket as it sought to establish a regular launch schedule for Amazon’s growing satellite internet constellation.
ULA said the rocket had suffered an anomaly after lifting off from Space Launch Complex 41 on Sunday and had failed to deliver the Amazon mission into orbit.
“Every flight generates data, and every flight teaches us something,” the company said. “Since the anomaly just occurred, we don’t have any specific data yet to understand what occurred today.”
The cause of the failure was not immediately clear.
