The next date for United Launch Alliance’s launch of the first Project Kuiper satellites is scheduled for today [April 14th] from 4:00 PM to 8:34 PM ET. Liftoff of the Kuiper 1 mission will occur from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Project Kuiper’s satellite payload will be the heaviest payload ULA’s Atlas V rocket has ever flown. To accommodate it, ULA will be flying Atlas V in its most powerful configuration. The launch will cost $153 million.

The initial plan was to launch on April 9th but “stubborn cumulus clouds and persistent winds make liftoff not possible within the available window,” according to ULA Launch Director Eric Richards.

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 590km, 610km and 630km altitude.

The Atlas V 551, manufactured by United Launch Alliance established in 2006, which undertook its inaugural launch on January 19th 2006, is non-reusable and is active.

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Categories: Articles, Broadband, Satellite

Tags: Florida, Project Kuiper, ULA