First Amazon Kuiper satellites blast off, Atlas V rocket’s heaviest ever payload
The first batch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper internet satellites have successfully blasted off into space aboard the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.
The 27 Amazon Kuiper satellites will be positioned into low Earth orbit and will eventually be joined by more than 3,200 others to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet to virtually any location on the planet.
The Atlas V rocket with its heaviest ever payload onboard lifted off on April 28, 2025, at 19:01 EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Amazon said that it has already “established contact with all 27 satellites, and initial deployment and activation sequences are proceeding nominally”.
To accommodate the huge payload, ULA flew its Atlas V rocket in its most powerful configuration with five solid rocket boosters needed in addition to its main one.
ULAAtlas V unleashed 2.7 million pounds (12 megaNewtons) of thrust to get off the ground during the launch.
“A good day. Launched at the open of the window. Heaviest Atlas payload, most Atlas separation events. Bullseye insertions,” said Tory Bruno, the President and CEO of ULA.
The satellite launch was originally scheduled for April 9, 2025, but was abandoned due to unfavorable weather conditions and rescheduled.
On the shoulders of #AtlasV, #ProjectKuiper takes flight!https://t.co/B8eRFjLr7d pic.twitter.com/H3VS6Q76zp— ULA (@ulalaunch) April 28, 2025 “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.
He added: “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.”
Amazon has secured more than 80 launches to deploy the initial constellation of satellites with each mission adding dozens to the network.
ULAUsing its most advanced satellites Amazon says it will be able to provide an internet service that offers downlink speeds of up to one gigabit per second (Gbps).
Over the next few years, Kuiper and ULA teams will conduct seven more Atlas V launches and 38 launches on ULA’s larger Vulcan Centaur rocket.
An additional 30-plus launches are planned across our other launch providers: Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX.
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The post First Amazon Kuiper satellites blast off, Atlas V rocket’s heaviest ever payload appeared first on AeroTime.
The first batch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper internet satellites have successfully blasted off into space aboard the United…
The post First Amazon Kuiper satellites blast off, Atlas V rocket’s heaviest ever payload appeared first on AeroTime.
