Amazon’s Project Kuiper has completed its third satellite launch, adding 24 new spacecraft to its fledgling low Earth orbit (LEO) communications network.
The latest launch was carried out by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which operates rival LEO network Starlink, delivering the satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The mission, named KF-01 (Kuiper Falcon 1), brings the total number of Kuiper satellites launched to date to 78.
Following deployment at an initial altitude of 465 km, Amazon’s operations centre in Washington, US, assumed control of the satellites and began commissioning procedures. The spacecraft will be raised to their final orbital altitude of 630 km before entering service.
This marks the first time Amazon has used a SpaceX vehicle for a Kuiper mission, following previous launches on ULA’s Atlas V in April and June, which each deployed 27 satellites.
Project Kuiper is designed to provide global satellite internet coverage, with commercial services expected to begin once a sufficient number of satellites are operational, the company says.
