Amazon's second set of Kuiper internet satellites to be launched by ULA today
Countdown to Lift-Off! 🚀
Get set for an extraordinary event right here, as United Launch Alliance (ULA) prepares to launch Amazon's second batch of satellites for Project Kuiper on June 16, 2025. 🌐
These 27 satellites will ascend aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, departing at 1:25 p.m. EDT (1725 GMT). 🛰️
Tune in for the action live on our website, thanks to ULA, or directly from the company. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to liftoff. 👉 Watch Here
Forecast predicts a 75% chance of favorable weather conditions, with cumulus cloud cover being the primary concern (at the time of publication). 🌤️🌩️
The launch will see the Atlas V rocket's two RD-180 engines and five solid rocket boosters propel the satellite group for the initial 1 minute and 46 seconds. The boosters will detach shortly after, followed by the discarding of the protective fairing enveloping the Kuiper satellites 3 minutes post-launch. 🚀💥
The RD-180 engines will shut down around 4 minutes, 23 seconds, and the booster and upper stage will part ways. A Centaur engine will then take over, guiding the satellites into their desired orbit before cutting off at the 18-minute mark.
Witness history unfold as Amazon starts building its massive Project Kuiper internet constellation. The first launch of 27 satellites occurred back in April, marking the beginning of a network aiming to deploy over 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit. This colossal operation will utilize a combination of the Atlas V, ULA's Vulcan, Blue Origin's New Glenn, and ArianeGroup's Ariane 6 rockets.[3]
Amazon explains the ambition of Project Kuiper as "aiming to bring fast, reliable internet to customers and communities globally." [2]
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[1] – United Launch Alliance (2023). ULA Atlas V Delayed Due to Technical Issue.[Online]. Available at: https://blog.ulalaunch.com/2023/06/16/ula-atlas-v- delayed-due-to-technical-issue/[2] – Amazon (2023). Amazon Project Kuiper Fact Sheet.[Online]. Available at: https://www.amazon.com/kuiper[3] – Space.com (2025). Amazon Launches 27 Satellites to Begin Building Huge Internet Constellation (Video).[Online]. Available at: https://www.space.com/amazon-launches-27-satellites-kuiper-internet-constellation-video.html[4] – Amazon (2024). Amazon Gets a Green Light to Launch 3,000-Satellite Kuiper Constellation.[Online]. Available at: https://www.amazon.com/pr/Amazon-Gets-a-Green-Light-to-Launch-3000-Satellite-Kuiper-Constellation[5] – BBC News (2024). Blinded by the light: How bad are satellite megaconstellations for astronomy?[Online]. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-5938 university
- As the countdown for the Project Kuiper satellite launch on June 16, 2025, approaches, stay updated with the latest space-and-astronomy news and weather forecasts for the event.
- In the realm of technology and science, tune in to witness Amazon's second batch of Kuiper satellites being launched by ULA on June 16, 2025, marking a significant step towards building the massive Project Kuiper internet constellation.
