Weather Forces Delay in Amazon's Kuiper Satellite Launch
United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced a postponement of the second launch of Amazon's Project Kuiper internet satellites, originally planned for June 12. Citing multiple weather delays during the launch preparations, the flight has now been rescheduled for June 16 at 1:25 p.m. ET.
Launch Details and Context
The Atlas V rocket carrying the batch of Kuiper satellites is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, also known as the Space Coast. The region recently faced several days of heavy rain and strong winds, which impacted launch operations.
This upcoming mission will carry 27 additional satellites into low Earth orbit, doubling the constellation size to 54 satellites. The first Kuiper deployment mission successfully launched 27 satellites earlier this year, aiming to establish a vast network in orbit.
Amazon's Ambitious Satellite Network
Amazon has ambitious plans to build a constellation of over 3,000 satellites to provide global broadband internet service. The company is in a race to accelerate satellite deployments and meet a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate requiring at least 1,618 satellites (half the constellation) be in orbit by July 2026.
The project aims to compete directly with SpaceX’s Starlink, challenging the market dominance with its own commercial broadband offering.
Looking Ahead
With this delay now in place, Amazon continues to push forward with its satellite rollout, targeting service availability later this year. ULA and Amazon remain committed to overcoming weather and technical hurdles to keep this ambitious schedule on track.
Stay tuned for further updates on Project Kuiper's progress and developments in the satellite internet race.
