Project Kuiper is Amazon’s satellite internet initiative designed to provide broadband access to regions around the world that currently lack reliable connectivity. The system will use a constellation of over 3,200 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, positioned between 590 and 630 kilometers above Earth, to deliver internet service through a network of ground antennas and user terminals. The aim is to reach unserved and underserved populations, including individuals, schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies operating in remote or infrastructure-limited areas.

The project began development in 2018 and received FCC approval in 2020. Its first two prototype satellites were launched in October 2023. In April 2025, Amazon launched the first operational group of 27 Kuiper satellites aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket, marking the beginning of large-scale deployment. The FCC requires that at least 50% of the constellation (over 1,600 satellites) be launched by July 2026, with full deployment completed by July 2029.

Project Kuiper is managed by Amazon’s Devices and Services division. Satellites are manufactured in Kirkland, Washington, and launch integration is handled at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Amazon has secured a total of 92 rocket launches from United Launch Alliance (ULA), ArianeGroup, and Blue Origin, representing a combined investment of over $10 billion USD. Additionally, in December 2023, Amazon purchased three launches from SpaceX, which operates Starlink, a competing satellite internet constellation. These launch agreements form one of the largest commercial satellite deployment efforts to date.

Kuiper’s ground system includes gateway antennas and global networking to route data, while user terminals combine antennas and processors to receive service. Amazon has revealed three types of customer terminals, offering download speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps, depending on the model and intended use. While pricing has not yet been announced, the project is being developed with an emphasis on affordability and scalability.

Image courtesy of ULA.

The Atlas V is the workhorse of United Launch Alliance's rocket fleet, combining Russian and American technology. It utilizes the Russian RD-180 engine on its first stage and is known for its versatility, offering 20 possible configurations—though only 10 have flown. Developed in the mid-to-late 1990s, the Atlas V is the fifth and final iteration of the veteran Atlas rocket family, which began its service in 1957. Lockheed Martin designed and built the Atlas V as part of the U.S. government's 1994 Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, aimed at supporting national security missions. The merger of Lockheed Martin's Atlas V and Boeing's Delta IV in 2006 created United Launch Alliance (ULA), which dominated the U.S. government launch market for over a decade.

Specs

Height: Up to 58.3 m (191 ft)

Diameter: 3.81 m (12.5 ft)

Mass: 590,000 kg (1,300,000 lb)

Stages: 2

The Atlas V's price has fluctuated significantly over the years. For example, a basic Atlas V 401 (featuring no boosters and a single-engine Centaur second stage) cost anywhere from the high-$90 million range to $163 million in the 2000s and early 2010s. However, with the rise of SpaceX as a competitor in the 2010s, significant price reductions followed. Although it is not the cheapest rocket on the market, the Atlas V has maintained an unmatched success rate, achieving a 100% mission success record. It is being phased out in favor of the Vulcan rocket, with full replacement expected by the late 2020s.

The Atlas V 551 variant features a five-meter payload fairing (5), five side-mounted solid rocket boosters (5), and a single-engine Centaur upper stage (1). One of its most notable missions occurred in January 2006, when it launched the New Horizons probe on its journey to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.

Photo courtesy of ULA.

Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) is a significant launch site located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) in Florida. Originally built in the 1960s, SLC-41 was designed to support the Titan III and Titan IV rocket programs. Throughout its history, the pad has been used for various missions, including the deployment of military and reconnaissance satellites. A notable launch from SLC-41 was the Cassini spacecraft mission, which began its journey to Saturn in 1997.

In the early 2000s, SLC-41 was repurposed to support the Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA). This transition involved extensive upgrades to the pad’s infrastructure and the installation of new ground support equipment to accommodate the Atlas V. These modifications ensured that SLC-41 could meet the requirements of modern space missions.

Under ULA’s management, SLC-41 has hosted a range of important launches, including the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which successfully landed the Curiosity rover on Mars in August 2012, and the launch of GPS III satellites, enhancing global positioning capabilities. The pad has also supported Boeing's CST-100 Starliner capsule, which is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Starliner capsule, designed to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station, has been launched from SLC-41 to support crewed missions.

Looking to the future, SLC-41 is set to support ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket. The Vulcan Centaur is intended to replace the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, marking a new era in ULA’s launch capabilities with enhanced performance and cost-efficiency. The pad’s infrastructure will be further updated to accommodate this next-generation rocket.