U.L.A. delivers for Amazon

Image Credit:  Michael Seeley - We Report Space

Cape Canaveral S.F.S., FL. Carrying the heaviest load ever on an Atlas V, United Launch Alliance (U.L.A.) this evening, April 28, 2025 launched the inaugural batch of 27 Amazon Kuiper communications satellites into a low Earth orbit on a northeast trajectory. The engines lit at 7:01 PM EDT sending the massive Atlas V towards orbit.

Project Kuiper, which is a subsidiary of Amazon are internet satellites mostly manufactured in Kirkland, Washington with a specialized parts being made in Redmond, WA. Final integration and preparation is handled by Amazon at a special processing facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

These satellites will be similar to the offerings of SpaceX Starlink satellites, in that the Kuiper satellites will offer fast internet services to areas that are underserved with current lack of connectivity. Additionally, Amazon will be able to expand their web services called Amazon Web Services (A.W.S.). In all, when the project is complete there the planned number of Kuiper satellites will number around 3,000, balanced by 80 coming launches.

In a statement from U.L.A.: “This launch is an incredible milestone in Amazon’s ambitious initiative to provide fast, reliable broadband service to unserved and underserved communities around the world,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “We have worked diligently with the Project Kuiper team to place this important mission on orbit and are grateful for the opportunity to continue building upon this dynamic partnership.”

In a continuing statement from U.L.A. “This launch marks the first step towards the future of our partnership and increased launch cadence. We have been steadily modifying our launch facilities in Cape Canaveral to support the capacity for future Project Kuiper missions in a manner that will ultimately benefit both our commercial and government customers as we endeavor to save lives, explore the universe and connect the world,” said Tory Bruno, ULA president and CEO. “The addition of a second launch processing capability allows for dual, simultaneous launch processing between both integration facilities seamlessly.”

ULA currently has 8 more Atlas V launches left for hoisting Kuiper satellites before the transition to Vulcan is finalized.

While U.L.A. lofted this group of satellites, SpaceX has a series of launches scheduled for the Kuiper constellation; Blue Origin and their New Glen rocket are also in the mix for future Kuiper launches as well as Ariane Space.

Initially, the Kuiper satellites will end up in orbit at about 390 miles above the earth, with service to people when about 580 satellites have been deployed and are fully operational.

With this launch, it will mark the 250th time a Centaur coupled to an Atlas has been launched

There will be a total of eight Kuiper missions, including KA-01, to be flown on the Atlas V before the history books close on Atlas’s storied career.

Project Kuiper is being spread over various rockets and locations, 38 missions on ULA Vulcans, 18 aboard the Ariane launch crafts, New Glenn will carry another 12 launches, and three launches aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9.

Article: Graham Smith

Images: Graham Smith and Michael Seeley for We Report Space