Amazon's Project Kuiper rocket launch scrubbed: What to know
SpaceX launches first crew to Earth's poles
SpaceX successfully launched the Fram2 mission Monday night at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the first human spaceflight to the Earth’s polar regions.
Amazon's Project Kuiper scrubbed its mission to send its first batch of satellites to space Wednesday.
The mission, named "KA-01" for Kuiper Atlas 1, was scheduled to launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, and deploy 27 satellites at an altitude of 280 miles above Earth. The two-hour launch window opened at 7 p.m. Eastern on April 9.
But Wednesday evening, ULA's launch director Eric Richards announced that the mission was scrubbed for the day and would not continue with countdown operations.
"Weather is observed and forecast NO GO for liftoff within the remaining launch window this evening, according to Launch Weather Officer Brian Belson," ULA wrote on X.
What is Project Kuiper?
The backstory:
Amazon began research and development on Project Kuiper, its satellite broadband program, in 2018. It launched its first test satellites in October 2023.
The service would be a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink, owned and operated by Elon Musk. Starlink has at least 6,900 active satellites orbiting Earth that provide high-speed broadband, including to areas where internet previously has been completely unavailable.
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The name Project Kuiper refers to the Kuiper Belt, a region of the solar system that exists beyond the eight major planets. The Kuiper Belt itself is named after the late Dutch astronomer Gerard Kuiper, who is considered by many to be the father of modern planetary science, according to Amazon.
Project Kuiper (Amazon)
What we know:
The company plans to launch more than 3,200 satellites for Project Kuiper and is preparing three dish models for customers. A standard model would offer speeds up to 400Mbps, while a smaller, portable model would offer speeds up to 100Mbps. An enterprise-grade receiver in development would deliver 1Gbps speeds, according to Amazon.
What we don't know:
Amazon hasn't revealed how much Kuiper will cost, and it’s unclear when exactly it will be available for purchase.
What’s next for Project Kuiper?
What's next:
Following the KA-01 launch, Project Kuiper plans to increase satellite production and deployment. It has secured more than 80 launches to deploy the satellites. Amazon said it hopes to roll out service later this year.
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Per the Federal Communication Commission, Amazon is required to launch half of its planned 3,200 satellites by July 2026. If it doesn’t, the company risks losing FCC clearance, but it could ask for an extension.
The Source: This report includes information from Amazon, The Associated Press and previous LiveNow from FOX reporting.