Project Kuiper, Amazon initiative to build a satellite internet constellation similar in concept to SpaceX’s Starlink, is ready to send an entire batch of satellites to space for the first time.
The launch of “KA-01” (short for Kuiper Atlas 1) mission, which will send 27 satellites into space using a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket in its most powerful configuration, is planned for Wednesday, April 9. The rocket will take off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and place the satellites about 280 miles (450 kilometres) above Earth.
The low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network project, developed by Amazon, aims to bring fast, reliable internet to people around the world, especially those living in underserved and remote areas. It will help bridge the digital divide by reaching areas that fibre and traditional broadband can’t.
To reach its ambitious goal, Amazon has signed major contracts with companies like United Launch Alliance (ULA), Blue Origin, and Arianespace. Over the course of the project, the company plans to launch 3,236 satellites in total. The created network is supposed to provide access to low latency, high-speed internet, suitable for streaming, video calls, and similar purposes.
The first two prototype satellites (KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2) were successfully launched in October 2023 aboard an Atlas V rocket. The new ones launching on KA-01 have been improved compared to the two test satellites. Amazon has upgraded all parts of the system — including antennas, processors, solar panels, engines, and the links that connect satellites. The company also added a special reflective coating that helps reduce how much sunlight the satellites reflect, making them harder to see from the ground and less disruptive to astronomers.
If the upcoming launch also ends up in success, Amazon expects to begin delivering commercial services to customers later this year. The next batches will be sent to orbit in more than 80 launches, with each one adding dozens of satellites to the network.
In the coming years, the Kuiper and ULA teams plan to carry out seven more launches using the Atlas V rocket, along with 38 launches on ULA’s larger Vulcan Centaur rocket. More than 30 additional launches are also scheduled with other partners, including Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX.
Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Project Kuiper, said that they had designed some of the most advanced communications satellites ever built, and each launch was a chance to expand their network’s capacity and coverage. He explained that while they had done extensive ground testing to prepare for the mission, some insights could only be gained during an actual flight. He noted that this would be the first time they were flying their final satellite design and deploying so many satellites at once. Regardless of how the mission turned out, he emphasized that it was only the beginning of their journey, and they were ready to learn, adapt, and continue launching in the years ahead.
After the satellites separate from the rocket, they will start a mostly automatic process to turn on their systems and slowly move up to their final orbit, which is about 392 miles (630 km) above Earth. They’ll use electric engines to get there and will travel faster than 17,000 miles per hour, circling the Earth about once every 90 minutes.
While the satellites are moving into place, the team will focus on the main goal: delivering full internet service. This means sending data from the internet to ground stations, then up to the satellites, and down to customer antennas — and doing the same in reverse.
