Amazon Joins Kuiper Project Satellites With ULA, Elon Musk's Ambition Of Singi Starlink

JAKARTA - Amazon will launch its first two prototype satellites for the internet-from-space constellation, planned in early 2023 using a new rocket from the joint venture Boeing-Lockheed, United Launch Alliance. This statement came from Amazon executives on Wednesday, October 12.

The delay in developing rockets with the launch of ABL Space Systems, which was originally ready to launch two Amazon satellites by the end of this year, prompted Amazon to use ULA's new fire rockets as secondary payloads.

The mission, the debut orbital flight of a new rocket that will compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX launcher, was set for the first quarter of 2023.

The prototype satellite will be the first to be launched as part of the Kuiper Amazon network, a planned constellation of 3,236 satellites stationed in low-Earth orbit designed to transmit broadband internet to remote parts of the world.

Amazon, through its Kuiper project, has pledged to invest $10 billion in the project, aiming to catch SpaceX's fast-growing Starlink network and has offered internet services to thousands of customers in tens of countries.

Amazon's last-minute switch to ULA's mitigating rocket will be a convenient test with its ULA partner, ahead of the 38 future launches of its future▁alamlous from launch company in 2021 to help deploy most of its operational satellites.

Amazon has not said when they plan to launch the first operational satellite. US communications regulators require the company to deploy half its constellation by 2026.

Another contract from Amazon, two launches with ABL startup still apply, although Amazon is not sure what satellite will be used for the rocket.

ABL built a custom launch adapter and completed another custom work for the Kuiper satellite earlier this year.

"The work continues for the launch of Kuiper in the future," ABL President Dan Piemont told Reuters by email.