Kuiper Satellites to Launch with SpaceX | Amazon & SpaceX Partnership

Amazon and SpaceX Collaborate on Project Kuiper

Amazon is progressing in its endeavor to compete with SpaceX in the satellite internet sector, and surprisingly, SpaceX is providing assistance. The company will be launching the next set of Amazon’s Project Kuiper internet satellites into orbit on Wednesday.

Launch Details for KF-01

A group of 24 Kuiper satellites will be transported aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This mission, designated KF-01, has a launch window of 27 minutes, beginning at 2:18 a.m. ET. The liftoff will occur from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Upon completion, the total number of Kuiper satellites in orbit will reach 78. Amazon’s long-term goal is to deploy over 3,200 satellites for its first-generation constellation in low Earth orbit.

Competition in the Satellite Internet Market

Amazon aims to establish a significant presence in the satellite internet market. Currently, this market is largely controlled by Starlink, which operates a network of approximately 8,000 satellites.

The SpaceX-Amazon Agreement

Despite being competitors, Amazon and SpaceX entered into a three-launch agreement in December 2023. This collaboration followed a shareholder lawsuit against Amazon.

The lawsuit concerned an earlier decision not to include SpaceX as a potential launch provider for the initial contracts. Shareholders argued that the Falcon 9 is demonstrably the most dependable rocket currently in service.

Meeting Deployment Deadlines

Amazon is under pressure to deploy at least half of its initial Kuiper constellation by July 2026, as stipulated by its license from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

Among the other launch providers selected – United Launch Alliance (ULA), Arianespace, and Blue Origin – only ULA currently has a functioning rocket capable of launching satellites into orbit. ULA successfully launched the first two batches of Kuiper satellites, with the initial launch taking place in April.

Blue Origin's Role

Bezos’ other venture, Blue Origin, is slated to launch Kuiper satellites using its New Glenn rocket. However, New Glenn has only completed one flight to date, and booster recovery was unsuccessful.

The next launch for Blue Origin is presently scheduled for August 15.