How to view the launch of Amazon's first Project Kuiper satellites today.
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Amazon is entering competition with SpaceX through its Project Kuiper, a broadband satellite internet service designed to compete with Starlink. The inaugural launch of Project Kuiper satellites is set for today, Wednesday, April 9, and will be available for livestream viewing.
The launch will utilize a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and is scheduled to occur at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission, designated “KA-01,” will deploy 27 satellites into an orbit located 280 miles above Earth.
You can watch the event through the embedded video above or by visiting the United Launch Alliance’s YouTube channel. Coverage will commence at 6:35 p.m. ET, with the launch expected to take place at 7 p.m. ET.
This launch marks the beginning of an extensive series of planned Kuiper missions, as Amazon aims to build a network comprising 3,200 satellites in low-Earth orbit. There are 80 launches projected for the network deployment, with an ambitious schedule primarily using ULA rockets. However, to meet launch demand, Amazon will also work with rockets from Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX.
“We’ve created some of the most advanced communications satellites ever constructed, and each launch presents an opportunity to enhance our network’s capacity and coverage,” stated Rajeev Badyal, Project Kuiper's vice president. “We have conducted thorough ground testing to prepare for this initial mission, but there are aspects that can only be learned during flight.”
Today’s launch will see a rocket taking off from Cape Canaveral's pad, ascending into space, and deploying the satellites. After separation from the rocket, the satellites must maneuver into their designated orbit, primarily through an autonomous process utilizing their electric propulsion systems. Each satellite operates independently and must establish communication with the ground team.
The satellites will orbit Earth at speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour, completing a full orbit every 90 minutes.
Georgina has been a space writer at Digital Trends for six years, focusing on human space exploration, planetary…
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How to view the launch of Amazon's first Project Kuiper satellites today.
Amazon is set to launch the initial group of Project Kuiper satellites tonight. Here’s how you can view the event.