Amazon Launches New Satellites for Project Kuiper Constellation

Amazon launched a second set of satellites into low Earth orbit for its Project Kuiper internet broadband constellation. The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying 27 Kuiper satellites lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the US state of Florida.

The mission was delayed twice due to inclement weather and a problem with a rocket booster. Amazon sent up its first 27 birds on an Atlas V rocket in April as part of a projected constellation of 3,236 satellites. It unveiled the Project Kuiper plan in 2019 and sent a pair of prototype satellites into orbit in 2023. It was initially planned to launch commercial services by the end of 2024.

Amazon needs to meet a Federal Communications Commission deadline to launch half of its constellation by July 2026. The company has more than 80 additional launches with several rocket providers in the works, including SpaceX. In addition to Starlink, Amazon is competing against companies including Eutelsat, direct-to-device specialists AST SpaceMobile, Lynk Global, and others.