Amazon is set to launch its first batch of Kuiper internet satellites on April 9. The launch will send 27 satellites into low Earth orbit, about 450 kilometers above the ground. This mission, called “KA-01,” will use a ULA Atlas V rocket and blast off from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 12:00 PM EDT. You can watch it live on ULA’s website.
The Kuiper project was first proposed to the FCC in July 2019. It aims to provide high-speed, low-latency internet using a constellation of 3,236 satellites in 98 orbits. The satellites will be at three different heights: 590 km, 610 km, and 630 km. This will bring internet access to customers in the US and other parts of the world. The project will be rolled out in five phases, with the first phase launching 578 satellites.
Amazon has invested over $10 billion in the Kuiper project. However, analysts think the company might spend up to $20 billion in the initial stages. On October 6, 2023, Amazon tested its KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 prototype satellites. The company plans to launch its first batch of satellites in the second half of 2024, but this was delayed due to ULA’s prior commitments to the US Space Force.
The Kuiper internet service is playing catch-up with its main competitor, SpaceX’s Starlink, which has already launched around 8,000 satellites and has over 5 million users. Other competitors include OneWeb, owned by Eutelsat, and SpaceSail from China, which aims to launch 15,000 satellites.
Kuiper’s broadband service via satellite will target households and communities in remote areas across the US and eventually globally, including government and corporate customers. However, Amazon needs to accelerate the launch of its satellites, with 1,618 required to be in orbit by July 30, 2026. The company has booked 80 flights with rocket providers like ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin, and even competitor SpaceX.
