Amazon Targets April 9 Launch of First Kuiper Internet Satellites
Amazon will launch its first 27 Kuiper internet satellites on April 9, 2025 from Cape Canaveral, marking the start of its ambitious Project Kuiper aimed at challenging SpaceX’s Starlink network.
Published on April 9, 2025
Amazon is set to launch its first 27 Kuiper internet satellites under the 'Kuiper Atlas 1' mission on April 9, 2025. The launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida will be carried out using an Atlas V rocket provided by United Launch Alliance, marking a major milestone in the deployment of Project Kuiper, Amazon’s ambitious plan to build a constellation of over 3,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit to rival SpaceX’s Starlink network.
Additional details indicate that these satellites will operate at an altitude of approximately 600 km, a bit higher than Starlink’s typical 550 km orbit. This mission, following the launch of two prototype satellites in 2023 and backed by a $10 billion investment plan first announced in 2019, also benefits from a series of multi-launch agreements with providers such as ULA, Arianespace, and Blue Origin.
As Amazon prepares to scale its satellite production dramatically, the company is positioning Project Kuiper to not only deliver high-speed internet globally but also cater to both commercial and governmental users, thereby intensifying competition in the burgeoning satellite internet market.