The first two satellites of Jeff Bezos’ Project Koyper are already in orbit
The United Launch Alliance space company has launched the first of 3,200 satellites in the Project Kuiper constellation, which Amazon plans to launch and connect over the next six years. The mission was successful. The two satellites are now online and ready to start working as prototypes to test the technologies of the future Kuiper constellation, a direct competitor to Starlink.
The Atlas-5 rocket took off at 14:06 local time from Cape Canaveral and about 18 minutes later launched two satellites into low Earth orbit. This was the eighth flight of the one-time two-stage Atlas-5 in the 501 configuration, which was first launched in 2010. And the 20th mission of ULA, a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture, commissioned by a private client.
After separation of the two prototype satellites, Amazon’s control center confirmed that KuiperSat-2 came online 37 minutes after launch. After another 9 minutes, KuiperSat-1 also transmitted a signal. The two satellites will allow the company to test Project Koyper’s space and ground systems from an altitude of 500 km before launching full-scale launches next year.
Jeff Bezos’s company received the key permission to deploy a constellation of satellites based on the Starlink model in February this year. The Commission approved the launch of 3,236 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit with a commitment to deliver at least half of the satellites into orbit by July 30, 2026.
Initially, ABL Space Systems was awarded the contract to launch the prototypes, but due to a series of RS1 rocket malfunctions, the mission was reassigned to ULA. The original plan was to send the satellites aboard a Vulcan rocket in early 2023, but there were delays there as well. As a result, the cargo was transferred to the more proven Atlas missile family. In the future, the rest of the Kuiper constellation will be launched into orbit by Vulcan. The next batch of satellites will be sent into orbit no earlier than December.
In March, Amazon already presented user terminals and disclosed the first technical specifications of communication quality. Speeds of 100 and 400 Mbit/s, as well as 1 Gbit/s and three types of receiving dishes for terminals are promised. Beta testing of the Project Kuiper satellite communication service is scheduled for next year.
