Project Kuiper Protoflight Mission (Atlas V #1)

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Communications

Low Earth Orbit Space Launch Complex 41 Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

This launch will launch 2 KuiperSat demonstration satellites to 500 km altitude, 30 degree inclination orbit. They were previously scheduled on the 1st Vulcan launch. 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.

Updates

Nosu • Sept. 13, 2023, 12:06 p.m.

Targeting the first week of October


Cosmic_Penguin • Sept. 11, 2023, 5:40 p.m.

NET October 2023.


Cosmic_Penguin • Sept. 10, 2023, 5:55 p.m.

Renamed launch mission name to one used by ULA.


Atlas V 501

Family: Atlas
Configuration: 501

Atlas V with 5m Fairing, 0 SRB, 1 Centaur upper stage engine.

See Atlas Details
Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    1
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    58.3 m
  • Diameter
    3.8 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Launch Mass
    334 T
  • Thrust
    3827 kN
Family
  • Name
    Atlas V 501
  • Family
    Atlas
  • Variant
    501
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Atlas V 501
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $120000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    8210 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    3780 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

United Launch Alliance

Circle Image
CEO: Tory Bruno Founded: 2006 Successes: 158 Failures: 0 Pending: 37

Agency Type: Commercial

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.

INFO WIKI

Related News

SpaceNews

Amazon moves Project Kuiper prototypes from Vulcan to Atlas 5

Amazon plans to deploy its first pair of Project Kuiper prototypes this fall on an Atlas 5 from United Launch Alliance, the internet giant said Aug. 7 after switching rockets a second time to avoid mounting delays.

The Launch Pad

Amazon Moves Project Kuiper Demo From Vulcan To Atlas 5

Amazon has announced its plans to launch the first pair of Project Kuiper prototypes this fall using a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket due to the delay of ULA's Vulcan Centaur.

CNBC

Amazon shows off new satellite internet antennas as it takes on SpaceX’s Starlink

WASHINGTON -- Amazon revealed a trio of satellite antennas on Tuesday, as the company prepares to take on SpaceX’s Starlink with its own Project Kuiper internet network.

Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

Space Launch Complex 41


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