Amid time constraints and developmental delays with United Launch Alliance ’s Vulcan Centaur rocket , Amazon has chosen to deploy its Project Kuiper prototype satellites this tumble using an Atlas V.
“ Project Kuiper is now planning to launch its image satellite on an Atlas quintuplet projectile , ” read an officialstatementon Amazon ’s website . “ ULA is work backward from a launching date in declivity 2023 . We will have more item to share as the missionary work approaches . ”
Amazon ’s urgency is understandable , as it pelt along against the regulatory clock . Its license with the Federal Communications Commissionstipulatesthat it must found half of Project Kuiper by 2026 , with the entire 3,236 - satellite constellation launched to low Earth orbit by 2029 . A Reutersreportpoints to a potential launch date of September 26 for the Atlas V delegation .
An Atlas V rocket, carrying NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, launching from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Sept. 8, 2016, in Florida.Photo: NASA
The Vulcan Centaur , a 202 - foot - tall ( 62 - metre ) skyrocket designed to replace the long - serve ULA Atlas IV and Delta V rockets , has faced blow in its ontogenesis journey . After afour - yr delaydue to the overdue obstetrical delivery of BE-4 engines built by Blue Origin , Colorado - based ULA is now tackling a job with the rocket ’s upper stage that caused asignificant explosionearlier in the year . When fully operational , Vulcan Centaur promises to lift up to 27.2 metrical tons ( 60,000 Irish pound ) to low Earth compass and 6.5 metric tons ( 14,300 pounds ) to geosynchronous orbit .
Similar to SpaceX ’s Starlink , Amazon ’s upcoming Project Kuiper aims to provide fast and affordable broadband net access to regions around the world . The upcoming mission involving prototypes describe Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2 aims to essay these satellites in space . If successful , ULA will then ease a megaconstellation across 46 launch , using both Atlas V and Vulcan Centaurs . In preparation for this undertaking , Amazonhas channeled $ 120 milliontowards the structure of a 100,000 - square - metrical unit artificial satellite processing hub at NASA ’s Kennedy Space Center , Florida , in former 2025 .
For the Vulcan Centaur ’s unveiling , ULA remains tasked with launch the Peregrine lunar lander , built by Astrobotic and funded by NASA , which is wait to fork out 11 loading to the Moon . Beyond Amazon and Astrobotic , ULA is also contracted to plunge 35 missionary work for the U.S. Space Force in the come years .
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