United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V 501 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 on October 6. Onboard were two prototype satellites, labeled KuiperSat 1 and 2, destined for LEO (Low Earth Orbit).
As a part of Project Kuiper, a project over five years in the making, future missions will eventually contribute to a constellation of more than 3,200 satellites. Kuiper Systems, a subsidiary of Amazon, will compete with other space internet services such as SpaceX’s Starlink. Amazon has committed to $10 billion in funding toward the project. Posting to Instagram, the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, said, “So much care, persistence, boldness, and beauty. What an amazing endeavor. The first two Kuiper prototypes are now safely orbiting 500 kilometers above the Earth. Big milestone and much more to come!” The network of satellites will service customers around the world with affordable broadband service from orbit.
