About an hour ago, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket successfully launched from Florida with a payload of 27 Amazon Project Kuiper internet network satellites. The spacecraft will be delivered into low Earth orbit.
According to Amazon, the satellites will initially be placed in orbit at an altitude of 450 km and then use their electric propulsion systems to ascend to their operational orbit at an altitude of 630 km. Once the target orbit is reached, testing of the mission's main task - providing continuous network connectivity - will begin.
The launch was initially planned for April 10 but was postponed due to weather conditions and launch window restrictions at the Eastern Range of the US Space Force.
Compared to two prototypes launched in October 2023, the new satellites have received significant improvements: advanced phased array antennas, processors, solar panels, propulsion systems, and special 'dielectric mirror films' to reduce reflection impacts on astronomical observations.
Amazon plans to conduct 45 launches using ULA's Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur rockets, as well as more than 30 launches in collaboration with Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Arianespace. Commercial operation of the Project Kuiper network is expected to start by the end of 2025.