NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Project Kuiper Protoflight

Launch Time
Fri Oct 06, 2023 18:06 UTC

Rocket

Atlas V 501
Image Credit: ULA
ULA
Status: Retired
Price: $120.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 3,826 kN
Payload to LEO: 8,210 kg
Payload to GTO: 3,780 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 62.2 m
Fairing Diameter: 5.4 m
Fairing Height: 26.5 m

Mission Details

KuiperSat Protoflight

First launch of the Kuiper satellites of Amazon's mega constellation, to a 500 km, 30 degrees inclination LEO.

Project Kuiper is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access, this constellation will be managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. This constellation is planned to be composed of 3,276 satellites. The satellites are projected to be placed in 98 orbital planes in three orbital layers, one at 590 km, 610 km and 630 km altitude.

Payloads: 2
Low Earth Orbit

Location

SLC-41, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

2023

163rd orbital launch attempt

United Launch Alliance

158th mission
3rd mission of 2023
157th successful mission
153rd consecutive successful mission

Atlas V

99th mission
2nd mission of 2023
98th successful mission
89th consecutive successful mission