Project Kuiper press release:QuoteHere’s what to expect from Project Kuiper’s first full-scale satellite launchUnited Launch Alliance will send 27 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit as we begin a full-scale deployment of our satellite internet network.April 02, 2025[...]Next steps for Project KuiperFollowing KA-01, we will continue to increase our production, processing, and deployment rates as we prepare to begin delivering service to customers. We have already begun shipping and processing satellites for our next mission: KA-02 will also use a ULA Atlas V rocket and launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.[...]
Here’s what to expect from Project Kuiper’s first full-scale satellite launchUnited Launch Alliance will send 27 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit as we begin a full-scale deployment of our satellite internet network.April 02, 2025[...]Next steps for Project KuiperFollowing KA-01, we will continue to increase our production, processing, and deployment rates as we prepare to begin delivering service to customers. We have already begun shipping and processing satellites for our next mission: KA-02 will also use a ULA Atlas V rocket and launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.[...]
Manufacturing defect blamed for Vulcan solid rocket motor anomalyMarch 12, 2025[...]ULA’s next launch will be not of Vulcan but of Atlas, carrying a set of satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation. That would be followed, once Vulcan is certified, of the USSF-106 and USSF-87 missions for the Space Force before switching back to Kuiper launches.[...]
Quote from: Jim on 04/02/2025 10:46 pmQuote from: DrTadd on 04/02/2025 10:11 pmIt will be interesting to see if once the Atlas moves to the pad if they start stacking Vulcan again or if they wait till the Atlas is gone off the pad.After Atlas leaves. There is no safe haven or rollback facility.Probably stacking an Atlas after Atlas is off the pad.
Quote from: DrTadd on 04/02/2025 10:11 pmIt will be interesting to see if once the Atlas moves to the pad if they start stacking Vulcan again or if they wait till the Atlas is gone off the pad.After Atlas leaves. There is no safe haven or rollback facility.
It will be interesting to see if once the Atlas moves to the pad if they start stacking Vulcan again or if they wait till the Atlas is gone off the pad.
Quote from: StraumliBlight on 04/15/2025 11:14 pm0744-EX-ST-2025 [Apr 15]QuoteLaunch vehicle communications for the launch of Atlas V vehicles with commercial satellites from Space Launch Complex 41 (LC-41) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.Operation Start Date: 06/11/2025Operation End Date: 12/11/2025Quote from: STA ApplicationThe Atlas V 501 will be launched on an easterly trajectory from Eastern Range (ER) Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41). A single Centaur main engine burn with a Guidance Commanded Shutdown (GCS) will place the two spacecraft into a Low Earth Orbit (500 km circular at 30.0 deg inclination). Spacecraft separation will occur at approximately 18 minutes after liftoff. After separation the Centaur coasts for approximately 15 minutes before turning to the second burn attitude. The second burn (which occurs at approximately 40 minutes after liftoff) will place the Centaur into a hyperbolic trajectory to meet upper stage disposal requirements. Centaur end of mission occurs approximately 81 minutes after liftoff.Sigh, they did it again. This STA is a copy-paste of the one from 2023, and it is wrong. The older one was a 501 launching 2 satelltites. the remaining Kuiper Atlas Vs are 551 configurations with 27 satellites.
0744-EX-ST-2025 [Apr 15]QuoteLaunch vehicle communications for the launch of Atlas V vehicles with commercial satellites from Space Launch Complex 41 (LC-41) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.Operation Start Date: 06/11/2025Operation End Date: 12/11/2025Quote from: STA ApplicationThe Atlas V 501 will be launched on an easterly trajectory from Eastern Range (ER) Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41). A single Centaur main engine burn with a Guidance Commanded Shutdown (GCS) will place the two spacecraft into a Low Earth Orbit (500 km circular at 30.0 deg inclination). Spacecraft separation will occur at approximately 18 minutes after liftoff. After separation the Centaur coasts for approximately 15 minutes before turning to the second burn attitude. The second burn (which occurs at approximately 40 minutes after liftoff) will place the Centaur into a hyperbolic trajectory to meet upper stage disposal requirements. Centaur end of mission occurs approximately 81 minutes after liftoff.
Launch vehicle communications for the launch of Atlas V vehicles with commercial satellites from Space Launch Complex 41 (LC-41) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.Operation Start Date: 06/11/2025Operation End Date: 12/11/2025
The Atlas V 501 will be launched on an easterly trajectory from Eastern Range (ER) Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41). A single Centaur main engine burn with a Guidance Commanded Shutdown (GCS) will place the two spacecraft into a Low Earth Orbit (500 km circular at 30.0 deg inclination). Spacecraft separation will occur at approximately 18 minutes after liftoff. After separation the Centaur coasts for approximately 15 minutes before turning to the second burn attitude. The second burn (which occurs at approximately 40 minutes after liftoff) will place the Centaur into a hyperbolic trajectory to meet upper stage disposal requirements. Centaur end of mission occurs approximately 81 minutes after liftoff.
Yes. Likely will do KA02 next, then flip back to Vulcans for a bit. [Apr 30]
Cross-posting Tory Bruno's tweet here where he says they will "likely" do KA-02 next:https://bsky.app/profile/torybruno.bsky.social/post/3lnzzxilbqk2vIf they pull this off in May I'll be impressed. It's no small feat to go from a ~1x/quarter launch cadence over the past few years to 1x/month and pulling it off would give a lot more credibility to their stated 2025 launch plans of 12 flights.
Atlas V to launch Kuiper 2United Launch Alliance (ULA) will use its Atlas V rocket to deliver the second batch of Project Kuiper satellites into space for Amazon. Project Kuiper is Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite broadband network. Its mission is to provide fast, reliable internet to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities, using a constellation of more than 3,200 LEO satellites.Launch Date and Window: to be announcedMission OverviewAn Atlas V 551 rocket, configured with five side-mounted solid rocket boosters and a medium-length payload fairing, will launch the next Project Kuiper satellites into space on the Kuiper 2 mission. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This launch continues a new chapter in the commercial launch industry as Amazon partners with ULA to deploy a majority of its advanced satellite constellation using eight Atlas V and 38 Vulcan rockets in accordance with the world's largest commercial launch agreement.[...]
ULA put up their mission page for this launch, confirming it's their next:
I’ve heard these satellites are already at the Cape. If that’s the case, Amazon might be growing its constellation rather quickly. [May 15]
Could ULA launch the week of Memorial Day?
Is anyone free to tell the Atlas tail number?
Kuiper 2, the launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the second batch of production satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, is planned for June 13, 2025, pending range approval. The launch is scheduled for 2:29 p.m. EDT at the opening of a thirty-minute window, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
We finished processing and integrating all 27 satellites for our KA-02 mission earlier this month, and @ULAlaunch is targeting no earlier than Friday, June 13 for launch, with a 30-minute window opening at 2:29pm EDT. Follow ULA’s mission page for updates: https://spr.ly/6017NNxJ9
ULA just uploaded five photos of Atlas being stacked, taken on May 22nd.
