Amazon’s Project Kuiper Set to Launch First Operational Satellites on April 28

The mission, known as Kuiper 1, will be carried into orbit by ULA’s Atlas V rocket—a reliable, workhorse launch vehicle that has logged over 90 missions with a near-perfect success rate. This launch marks the first in a massive series of deployments planned by Amazon, which has committed to 83 launches over the coming years to build out its 3,236-satellite constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO). The goal: to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to customers around the world, particularly in rural and remote areas where traditional internet infrastructure is limited or unavailable.

 "This launch begins a new chapter in the commercial launch industry," ULA said in a statement released on April 18. "Amazon is partnering with ULA to deliver the first batch of their advanced satellites to low Earth orbit."


A Multi-Launch, Multi-Vendor Strategy

Amazon’s strategy for deploying Project Kuiper is not limited to a single launch provider. While the Kuiper 1 mission will be carried out using ULA’s Atlas V, future satellite batches will be launched aboard a diverse range of vehicles. These include:

- Arianespace’s Ariane 6 – Europe’s next-generation launch vehicle

- ULA’s Vulcan Centaur – a powerful successor to the Atlas V, designed for future deep-space missions

- Blue Origin’s New Glenn – Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s space company, which is preparing for its first launch


This diversified launch approach not only reduces risk but also ensures that Amazon has the flexibility and capacity needed to meet its FCC-mandated deployment deadlines, which require that half of the Kuiper constellation be operational by mid-2026.


The Kuiper 1 mission has not been without setbacks. The original launch date of April 9 was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. The subsequent delay was due to scheduling conflicts on the Eastern Range, a launch zone controlled by the U.S. Space Force that oversees all rocket flights from Florida’s spaceports.

ULA CEO Tory Bruno addressed the delay publicly, stating on social media platform X that the holdup was due to “range availability,” a reference to the tight launch schedule and coordination needed among multiple users of the range.

Now, with a new two-hour launch window on April 28, Amazon and ULA are preparing for what could be a historic milestone for both companies—and for the commercial space sector as a whole.

Building on Early Success

Amazon has already tested the waters with two prototype Kuiper satellites, which launched successfully in 2023. These early satellites validated key technologies, such as communications systems, satellite design, and operational protocols. The success of those tests laid the foundation for Kuiper 1, the first mission to deploy fully functional satellites intended to form part of the operational network.

While Amazon has yet to announce a firm date for when Project Kuiper will begin offering services to customers, executives have indicated that limited commercial operations could begin as soon as late 2024 or early 2025.

Project Kuiper enters an increasingly competitive market dominated by SpaceX’s Starlink, which already has over 6,000 satellites in orbit and a growing user base in dozens of countries. However, Amazon is betting big on its ability to provide a compelling alternative, leveraging its massive logistics infrastructure, global brand recognition, and partnerships with satellite and aerospace leaders to carve out a place in the satellite internet sector.

Amazon has also committed to investing over $10 billion in the development of Project Kuiper, signaling its long-term commitment to the venture and to the broader push for global connectivity.

What Comes Next

If Kuiper 1 launches successfully on April 28, it will pave the way for a rapid cadence of future missions, each placing dozens of satellites into orbit. Amazon’s deployment schedule must accelerate significantly in the next 24 months in order to meet regulatory deadlines and begin delivering service.

By Azhar