United Launch Alliance rocket delivers Amazon satellites to orbit after Florida liftoff: Photos
Amazon has officially begun building its broadband internet service in orbit with the delivery of the first batch of its Kuiper satellites.
The 27 satellites billionaire Jeff Bezos' company deployed April 28 following a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, are the first of thousands that will eventually comprise its new constellation. The venture would be a direct challenge to Elon Musk and SpaceX, the billionaire's spaceflight company that has spent six years building up its powerful Starlink satellite network for customers worldwide.
The launch even took place on the same night that SpaceX notched its 250th Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral.
Amazon's $10 billion plans, known as Project Kuiper, will ultimately include more than 3,200 satellites in what's called low-Earth orbit – an altitude that allows for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly.
Floridians across the Cape and beyond gathered to watch the evening launch as the cargo was delivered atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Here's a recap of the launch, along with a look at some photos:
The Atlas V rocket from ULA – a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin – got off the ground right on time at 7:01 p.m. ET Monday, April 28, 2025.
The Atlas V was equipped with five solid rocket boosters for added liftoff power in addition to its main booster to accommodate the heaviest payload it's ever flown.
Following liftoff, the rocket helped deploy the satellites at an altitude of 280 miles above Earth. The satellites then autonomously used their electric propulsion systems to ascend to 392 miles high, where they can orbit Earth once every 90 minutes, according to Amazon.
Bad weather scrubbed an initial launch attempt on April 9.
The mission, named 'KA-01' for Kuiper Atlas 1, is just the first to deliver a batch of satellites as part of Amazon's Project Kuiper to provide high-speed internet to customers around the globe.
The satellites – Amazon's largest deployment to date – were significantly upgraded following an October 2023 launch of two prototype Kuiper satellites, according to the company.
Amazon's Kuiper service seeks to rival SpaceX, which has long led the way in satellite launches, having launched more than 6,700 operational Starlink satellites into orbit since 2019.
Amazon has touted the service as one that will benefit "unserved and underserved communities" in rural areas where internet access may be elusive.
Amazon has already confirmed initial contact with all of the satellites from its mission operations center in Redmond, Washington.
"Initial deployment and activation sequences are proceeding nominally," Amazon said in a mission update. "We'll have subsequent updates to share as the mission unfolds."
The launch is just the first of about 80 in the years ahead as Amazon continues to amass its satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit. If all goes as planned, the company said it expects to "begin delivering service to customers later this year."
The United Launch Alliance, based in Colorado, will deploy a majority of the satellites on its Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur rockets. Amazon is also planning to contract with Arianespace and SpaceX as Blue Origin, which Bezos also owns, develops its massive New Glenn rocket for Kuiper deliveries.
ULA could launch up to five more Kuiper missions this year, ULA CEO Tory Bruno told Reuters in an interview this month. Amazon said in a 2020 FCC filing that it could begin service in some northern and southern regions at 578 satellites, with coverage expanding toward Earth's equator as the company launches more satellites.
Contributing: Rick Neale, Florida Today; Reuters
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida Amazon rocket launch photos: Kuiper satellites on way to orbit
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