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Amazon has announced that it will deploy its Project Kuiper prototype satellites using an Atlas V rocket this fall. The decision comes as United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket faces time constraints and developmental delays. Amazon’s urgency is due to the regulatory requirement to launch half of Project Kuiper by 2026 and the entire 3,236-satellite constellation by 2029. The specific launch date for the Atlas V mission is expected to be around September 26.

The Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is designed to replace ULA’s Atlas IV and Delta V rockets, has faced setbacks in its development. Delays in the delivery of BE-4 engines by Blue Origin caused a four-year delay, and there is also an issue with the rocket’s upper stage that caused an explosion earlier this year. Once operational, the Vulcan Centaur is expected to have a payload capacity of up to 27.2 metric tons to low Earth orbit and 6.5 metric tons to geosynchronous orbit.

Similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon’s Project Kuiper aims to provide broadband internet access globally. The upcoming mission will involve the deployment of the Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2 prototypes to test their functionality in space. ULA will facilitate the deployment of a megaconstellation consisting of 46 launches using both the Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur rockets. Amazon has invested 0 million in the construction of a satellite processing hub at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to support this project.

This is the second time Amazon has switched rocket platforms for Project Kuiper. Initially planning to use ABL Space Systems’ RS1 rocket, they turned to ULA due to developmental issues and a failed maiden launch. ULA CEO Tory Bruno has attributed the failure to the vehicle’s thin steel skin, requiring modifications and further testing.

In addition to the Project Kuiper deployment, ULA has other launch commitments, including the Peregrine lunar lander that will deliver payloads to the Moon and 35 missions for the U.S. Space Force.

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