Amazon changes rockets for the launch of prototype Kuiper internet satellites, pushing the mission to 2023
Amazon is trading rides for the first prototype satellites for its Project Kuiper internet network, the organization reported Wednesday, a move that defers launching the pair of spacecraft to early next year.
The tech giant is moving its Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2 from the RS1 rocket being developed by ABL Space to the presentation trip of the Vulcan rocket from United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
A year prior Amazon declared that ABL’s RS1 would carry the prototypes to orbit in late 2022, yet the rocket is still being developed, with an earlier debut launch yet to take off.
All things being equal, the Amazon satellites will hitch a ride on the first launch of ULA’s Vulcan, which is planned for the first quarter. ULA has been looking out for two significant pieces for Vulcan’s debut: a pair of BE-4 motors being worked by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and the Peregrine lunar lander of Astrobotic — a spacecraft previously set up for the flight.
Amazon isn’t dumping ABL completely, in any case, saying it intends to hold two launches with the rocket organization for future missions. ABL President Dan Piemont affirmed the plans to keep working with Amazon, telling that his organization completed work on a custom Project Kuiper spacecraft adapter earlier this year. He likewise underscored that ABL has a backlog of missions from clients including the U.S. Space Force and Lockheed Martin.
Project Kuiper is Amazon’s plan to construct a network of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit, to give high-speed internet to anyplace in the world. The Federal Communications Commission in 2020 authorized Amazon’s system, which the organization has said it will “invest more than $10 billion” to build.
Earlier this year, Amazon reported the greatest corporate rocket deal in the industry’s history, and has reserved to 92 launches from three distinct organizations to convey the satellites quickly enough to meet regulatory necessities.