LOS ANGELES, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Amazon launched the first batch of satellites for its Project Kuiper on Monday, marking a key step in the company's efforts to expand global broadband access.
The satellites were launched aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the U.S. state of Florida at 19:01 EST (2301 GMT).
Minutes later, ULA confirmed successful rocket staging. The first stage of flight was completed with booster engine cutoff, followed by separation of the Atlas V's common core booster.
Codenamed "KA-01," the mission deployed 27 satellites into low Earth orbit at an altitude of 450 km, according to Amazon.
The launch was originally scheduled for April 9, but was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions.
The mission represents the beginning of Amazon's plan to deploy a constellation of over 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, aimed at delivering high-speed, low-latency internet access to customers and communities worldwide.
"We've designed some of the most advanced communications satellites ever built, and every launch is an opportunity to add more capacity and coverage to our network," said Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Project Kuiper.
The satellite payload aboard "KA-01" is the heaviest ever flown by ULA's Atlas V rocket. To accommodate the load, ULA used the rocket's most powerful configuration.
Over the next few years, Amazon and ULA teams will conduct seven more Atlas V launches and 38 launches on ULA's larger Vulcan Centaur rocket for the majority of the Project Kuiper constellation.
Additionally, Amazon has contracted more than 30 launches with other providers, including Arianespace, Blue Origin and SpaceX.
Amazon first announced Project Kuiper in 2019. In October 2023, it launched two prototype satellites to test and refine the technology needed to deliver affordable satellite internet service.
Amazon's Project Kuiper will compete directly with SpaceX's Starlink service, which has already connected more than 4 million users with high-speed internet across over 100 countries, according to U.S. media reports. ■