Amazon launches the first internet satellites for Project Kuiper next week

Amazon will launch the first 27 satellites for Project Kuiper into low Earth orbit next Wednesday. This marks the start of a network of more than 3,200 radio stations for the company's satellite internet, which will compete with Elon Musk's Starlink. Both networks enable internet access via satellite dish even in remote regions that are currently neither wired nor covered by mobile communications.

Amazon launched the first prototypes of its satellite internet into orbit back in 2023. This was the first practical test for Project Kuiper and, according to the company, all tests were completed successfully. Construction of the mega-constellation was due to begin in the first half of 2024, meaning that the satellite internet was to be tested towards the end of the year. However, this has now been delayed by around a year, as the first satellites suitable for regular internet coverage will not be launched until April 9, 2025.

Amazon has not yet given a reason for the delay, but according to Bloomberg, the rocket manufacturers responsible for the launches had technical problems. In addition, launches of hardware for US national security had a higher priority. However, Amazon has now announced that an Atlas V rocket from the United Launch Alliance (ULA) carrying the internet satellites will take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on April 9 between 12 and 3 p.m. local time (between 6 and 9 p.m. German time). The launch will be broadcast live on the Internet by ULA.

Significantly improved internet satellites

The mission, known as “KA-01” (Kuiper Atlas 1), will initially take 27 satellites, which have been revised in many aspects compared to the first prototypes, to an altitude of 450 kilometers above the earth, where they will be set down by the rocket. The satellites will then propel themselves into the intended orbit at an altitude of 630 kilometers, where they will orbit the earth within around 90 minutes.

According to Amazon, it has “improved the performance of every system and subsystem on board, including phased array antennas, processors, solar arrays, propulsion systems and optical inter-satellite links”. In addition, the Earth satellites have a special coating that scatters reflected sunlight so that they should be less visible to astronomers on Earth.

Project Kuiper under time pressure

But KA-01 is just the beginning because according to Spacenews, Amazon is under time pressure. The license issued by the US regulatory authorities for the operation of satellite internet in 2020 requires half of the satellite network to be completed by July 2026. The rest must be in orbit by July 2029.

This is probably one of the reasons why Amazon is working with various rocket and launch companies for the planned 80 launches. Over the coming years, ULA is set to launch seven more Atlas V rockets for Project Kuiper and 38 more launches with the larger Vulcan-Centaur rockets. More than 30 additional launches are planned with other companies, such as Arianespace and Blue Origin. Even the competitor is helping out, as SpaceX is also to launch Amazon's Kuiper satellites into space.

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