Amazon rivals Starlink with launch of Kuiper satellites

The launch, which took place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, deployed 27 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites at an altitude of 450 kilometres. Within hours of liftoff, Amazon confirmed it had established contact with all satellites, with initial deployment and activation sequences proceeding as expected.

The KA-01 mission marked the first deployment of operational satellites for Project Kuiper, following earlier tests involving two prototypes in October 2023. The satellites launched on 28^th April featured significant upgrades across core systems, including phased array antennas, onboard processors, electric propulsion, solar arrays, and optical inter-satellite links. Each satellite is also equipped with a proprietary dielectric mirror film designed to minimise their visibility to ground-based astronomers by diffusing reflected sunlight.

The launch payload represented the heaviest ever carried by ULA’s Atlas V rocket, which was flown in its most powerful configuration. This included five solid rocket boosters and a 23.5-metre-tall payload fairing to accommodate the sizeable satellite load.

Amazon stated that the mission was the beginning of a broader deployment strategy to build a constellation of more than 3,200 LEO satellites. More than 80 launches have already been secured to deliver the initial system, with ULA scheduled to conduct seven further Atlas V launches and 38 additional flights using its newer Vulcan Centaur rocket. Additional launches are also planned with Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX.

Post-launch, the KA-01 satellites will gradually ascend to their final orbital altitude of 630 kilometres using onboard electric propulsion. Travelling at speeds exceeding 27,000 kilometres per hour, each satellite will complete an orbit around Earth roughly every 90 minutes. During this phase, Amazon’s Redmond-based operations team will oversee constellation management and ensure all systems are functioning as intended.

The broader goal of Project Kuiper is to deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to underserved regions across the globe. Amazon aims to begin offering service later in 2025, once enough satellites are in place to provide continuous coverage.

Preparations for the next launch, KA-02, are already underway. Like KA-01, it will utilise a ULA Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral. Amazon said it would increase production and deployment cadence in the coming months as it moves toward commercial service.