FRENCH GUIANA — An Ariane 64 rocket is scheduled to launch 36 Amazon satellites into orbit from a launch site in French Guiana. The launch is targeted for 7:53 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Amazon has deployed 331 satellites to date. United Launch Alliance Atlas V rockets carried the majority of these deployed satellites, and Amazon has one remaining mission booked on an Atlas V rocket. This rocket series is scheduled for retirement.

Amazon has hundreds of flight-ready satellites stored at a payload processing facility in Florida. Steve Metayer, vice president of Amazon satellite production operations, said, "They're built, and sitting in a payload processing facility waiting for trips to orbit." He added, "We're currently manufacturing several satellites a day."

Arianespace has completed two Ariane 6 launches carrying Amazon satellites this year. Amazon contracted four years ago for 18 launches on the Ariane 6 rocket. Metayer said, "As for Arianespace, they have definitely stepped up." He added, "They're very reliable on their manifest dates, and they're very reliable and safe on their insertions into orbit. So we definitely would continue to look forward to the next 16 launches with them on our existing contract, and we see them being a player long-term beyond that."

Amazon also contracted four years ago for 12 launches on Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, with options for 15 additional launches, and 38 launches on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket. New Glenn and Vulcan have not yet launched any Amazon satellites. Metayer noted that New Glenn accounts for less than 25% of all launches Amazon has contracted.

An explosion destroyed the New Glenn rocket and damaged the Launch Complex 36A pad. Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin, said the rocket will return to flight operations this year. Metayer added that the first Vulcan launch carrying Amazon satellites could occur in the late third quarter of this year. New Glenn is configured to carry at least 50 satellites per flight, while Ariane 6 carries 36 per flight. Amazon plans to begin commercial service with its satellite constellation later this year.

No independent assessment was available for this report.