Europe Launches Its Most Powerful Rocket With Amazon Satellites

The European Space Agency launched the most powerful version of its Ariane 6 rocket Thursday to deliver dozens more Amazon Leo satellites into orbit as Jeff Bezos bolsters his challenge to Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The heavy-lift rocket, powered by four boosters, blasted off around 1:45 p.m. local time from ESA’s spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket was carrying 32 satellites for Amazon.com Inc.’s low-Earth orbit constellation that will provide internet connectivity.