United Launch Alliance (ULA) has successfully launched its second production batch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites, marking another critical milestone in Amazon’s ambitious push to build a global broadband internet constellation in low Earth orbit.
Atlas 5 lifts off June 23 carrying the second set of Project Kuiper satellites for Amazon. Credit: ULA
Lifting off at 6:54 a.m. EDT (1054 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the Atlas V rocket carried 27 new Kuiper satellites into orbit. Designated as the “Kuiper 2” mission, this marks the 103rd flight of the Atlas V and the second ULA launch in support of Amazon’s growing satellite network — which is expected to eventually include more than 3,200 spacecraft.
Monday’s flight came after a brief delay earlier in the month. Originally scheduled for June 16, the launch was postponed due to a nitrogen purge issue involving the rocket’s booster engine. ULA rolled the 205-foot-tall rocket back to its Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) for servicing before returning it to the launch pad over the weekend.
According to the 45th Weather Squadron, conditions were 80% favorable for launch, and the countdown proceeded without any issues. Launch crews had loaded RP-1 — a rocket-grade kerosene — on Saturday as part of final preparations.
The Kuiper 2 mission, also referred to as AV-105 by ULA, follows April’s successful Protoflight demonstration, which carried the first batch of Kuiper satellites into space. This second launch now brings the total number of operational Project Kuiper satellites in orbit to 54.
Racing Against the Clock
Amazon faces a regulatory deadline from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requiring at least half of its first-generation Kuiper constellation to be operational by July 2026. That equates to more than 1,600 satellites in service — a steep climb from the current 54, with just over a year remaining.
To meet this target, Amazon has secured a wide-ranging launch portfolio across multiple providers:
- 6 more Atlas V launches from ULA
- 38 Vulcan rockets from ULA
- 18 Ariane 6 rockets from Arianespace
- 12 New Glenn rockets (with an option for 15 more) from Blue Origin
- 3 Falcon 9 rockets from SpaceX
Amazon announced in December 2023 that it would begin launching aboard Falcon 9 by mid-2025, though updates on this timeline have been limited. Meanwhile, the next launches from Blue Origin and Arianespace are expected in August, but neither will carry Kuiper payloads.
Orbital Deployment and Operations
Following separation from the rocket, ULA deployed the satellites into an initial orbit of 280 miles (450 kilometers). From there, Amazon’s mission operations center in Redmond, Washington, will take control, monitor satellite health, and maneuver the spacecraft into their final orbit at 392 miles (630 kilometers).
The new Kuiper mission tracking page — launched by Amazon on June 10 — has so far listed only two official missions: KA-01 (April) and KA-02 (June), with no public schedule yet for future launches.
Rajeev Badyal, Vice President of Technology at Project Kuiper, expressed enthusiasm about the fast progress. “The success of our first full-scale Kuiper mission in April meant we could move immediately to our next launch,” he said in a LinkedIn post. “All 27 satellites for our KA-02 mission were fully integrated within 17 days of that first launch. Thanks to the entire team for the quick turnaround. Go Kuiper. Go Atlas. Go KA-02!”
While this latest launch marks a significant step, the true test lies in Amazon’s ability to sustain a rapid launch cadence. With multiple providers and a tight deadline looming, the pace of satellite deployment in the coming months will be critical to the future of Project Kuiper — and Amazon’s aspirations to challenge SpaceX’s Starlink in the space-based internet market.
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