Amazon is preparing to launch the first two Kuiper satellites on October 6 to create an analog of SpaceX’s Starlink
Amazon launches its first Kuiper satellites into space. The company is ready to launch its first two satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, for the Protoflight mission scheduled for October 6. Amazon’s Kuiper project is a response to SpaceX’s Starlink service. The company is currently planning to launch 3,200 satellites over the next six years to create a constellation that will provide Internet access even in the most remote corners of the planet.
KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 are the first version of Amazon’s satellites that will provide the company with important experience. This will allow us to conduct a series of tests that will complement the laboratory data. The Project Kuiper team will also be able to observe the network operation – Protoflight will test the satellite’s connection to Kuiper’s ground network and user terminals. This will allow collecting important data for launching the next satellites, Engadget writes.
“We have conducted extensive testing in our laboratory and have a high level of confidence in our satellite design, but nothing beats on-orbit testing,” – said Rajiv Badial, vice president of technology for the Kuiper project, in a statement. “This is the first time Amazon is launching satellites into orbit, and we will gain extremely valuable experience regardless of the outcome of the mission.”
Earlier, Amazon announced its intention to launch the first two Kuiper satellites on a ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket. However, due to delays in the development of a new rocket, the satellites will be delivered on an Atlas V rocket. ULA will launch the satellites to an altitude of approximately 500 km, after which the Kuiper team will begin testing the systems on board, find out if all electronic systems are working, make first contact and deploy the satellites’ solar panels. The team will then send data to test the network. Amazon says that both satellites will be destroyed after the mission is completed.
The company claims that it plans to launch its first production satellites in the first half of 2024 and begin beta testing with commercial customers at the end of the same year. Depending on the results of this launch, the company may make changes to its plans. ULA will broadcast the event live on October 6, starting at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (21:00 Kyiv time). The broadcast will be available in the header of this article.
