A few weeks ago, I got a message from my leadership that stopped me mid-scroll:
"You have been nominated in recognition of your exceptional work. Your dedication and contributions that go above and beyond have been noticed, and we truly appreciate all that you do."
I'd been selected to attend the LA-08 launch as a guest of the program — a behind-the-scenes tour of the rocket, a catered event at ULA's Atlas Spacecraft Operations Center (ASOC), and rooftop viewing of the launch itself.
LA-08 is the final Atlas V launch on our first contract. I was there for the very first Atlas mission from our team. Getting to close this chapter from the closest seat in the house felt like the kind of moment you don't get twice.
I'm a founding engineer on the Launch Operations Software team at Amazon Leo. Since joining, I've built the core software that operates on satellites from the moment they arrive at the payload processing facility through the final hours before launch. The health check procedure I built is part of the data that informs the go/no-go decision before every launch — including LA-08. On top of that, I was the on-call engineer for this mission, ready to be pulled in if any of those checks failed and needed support from my team.
The nomination wasn't for any single thing — it was for showing up consistently and making an impact over the years I've been here. Getting to mission critical problems, where the software you write either clears a mission to fly or doesn't, has been the most rewarding part of my career. Being recognized for that work with a seat at this launch means a lot to me.
The Photo Opportunity
The afternoon before the launch, we boarded a bus at the ULA Guest Center for a tour through the facilities. We drove past other launch sites and through the Cape's natural landscape before pulling up to the gate of the launch pad — where Atlas V sat waiting, fully stacked with our satellites inside.
I brought my KA-01 Remove Before Flight tag with me — a souvenir from the very first Amazon satellite launch I was closely involved with, back when I was on the go/no-go calls for that mission. Holding it up in front of the rocket that would carry the last Atlas mission felt like the right way to mark the moment.
Launch Night
The evening event was at ULA's Atlas Spacecraft Operations Center. From the rooftop, we had a 360-degree view — the launch pad in one direction, the water in another, with a nearly full moon reflecting off the surface. Clear skies. The crowd was a mix of Amazon, ULA, and contractor teams, along with ULA crew who were there to see their rocket fly.
We had a live stream of mission control playing on the side, and everyone was tracking the countdown as it ticked toward the launch window. When the moment came, all eyes locked on the pad.
The engines lit and the sky turned to daylight. Atlas climbed fast — the sound and vibration hit us a few seconds later, intense even from four miles out. It was one of the most beautiful launches I've ever seen, right up there with the Artemis launch earlier this year.
Successful mission. Afterwards, a ULA representative gave a short speech thanking Amazon and marking Leo's final flight with the Atlas V. We raised custom Amazon Leo champagne flutes for a toast.
Closing the Atlas Chapter
KA-01 was the first Amazon satellite launch I was closely involved with — I was on the calls for the final health checks and the go decision for that mission. LA-08 was the last Atlas flight for our program. From first to last, on the same rocket. It felt like a fairytale ending.
There's something that changes when you see the thing you helped build actually fly. You can look at telemetry dashboards and health check results all day, but standing on a rooftop at midnight watching satellites ride a column of fire into orbit — that hits different.
I'm incredibly grateful for the recognition and for the team that made this experience possible.