The United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket Prepares to Launch Amazon’s Project Kuiper Satellites
Oct. 6 (UPI) — An unmanned Atlas V rocket is set to launch from Cape Canaveral in a groundbreaking mission to deploy thousands of communication satellites in low Earth orbit. The objective is to extend global access to broadband services. The liftoff is scheduled between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. EDT. This high-powered burner will carry two prototype satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which aims to bring high-speed internet to underserved populations worldwide.
About 18 minutes after launch, the prototype satellites, named Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2, will enter orbit approximately 300 miles above the Earth. Amazon plans to deploy 3,236 satellites by the end of 2026, with support from various U.S. aerospace manufacturers. Under the licensing agreement with the Federal Communications Commission, Amazon is required to have at least half of the Project Kuiper satellites operational by July 2026. These satellites are expected to start providing new broadband connections by late 2024, particularly in regions with no existing service.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is already engaged in a similar project, with federal approval to launch 7,500 satellites through Starlink. Both Amazon’s Project Kuiper and SpaceX’s Starlink initiatives aim to expand global broadband services.
The Project Kuiper countdown began more than 6 hours before the launch window opened, as the Atlas rocket arrived at Complex-41 overnight. The launch will be live streamed on the blog site of the United Launch Alliance, the contractor overseeing the test mission. Weather conditions for liftoff are expected to be ideal, with a 70% chance of success, given the forecasted temperature of 80 degrees, low winds, and partly cloudy skies. However, if the clouds thicken above Florida’s Space Coast, the launch may be postponed.
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