Amazon’s Starlink competitor, Project Kuiper, was aiming to launch its first prototype satellites into space this summer, but it looks like the company is facing another delay.
The issue involves the Vulcan Centaur, a new rocket from Amazon’s partner on the project, United Launch Alliance. Last week, ULA reportedly announced it had to push back the rocket’s launch to late 2023 after Centaur experienced an explosion during a test in March. That’s bad news for Amazon because the company wanted to include its first two prototype Project Kuiper satellites on board the maiden launch for the new rocket.
Amazon was originally eyeing a Q4 2022 launch, but in October, it delayed the launch to Q1 2023 amid the troubles ULA was facing in getting Centaur off the ground.
Amazon today declined to offer an update on Project Kuiper, which is aiming to serve its first customers by the end of 2024. A company spokesperson merely confirmed that ULA is targeting Q4 for Vulcan Centaur’s first launch.
Any delay risks stalling the development of Project Kuiper, a satellite internet system that can beam high-speed broadband to users on the ground. The company has secured an FCC license to operate over 3,000 satellites to power the network. But before Amazon can finalize the satellite hardware, it needs to first send up the two prototypes.
“The point of the test satellites is to validate the design before mass production starts,” Tim Farrar, a consultant in the satellite communications industry, wrote on Twitter.
The other issue is that Amazon’s FCC license to operate Project Kuiper requires the company to make half of the planned 3,236-satellite constellation operational by July 30, 2026. Otherwise, Amazon risks losing the license. The continued delays with Centaur mean Amazon may need to file an extension to the deadline, Farrer tells PCMag.
"Kuiper can’t keep pretending they are going to meet the July 2026 FCC deadline and be prepared to wait indefinitely for the test satellites to be launched," he added in his tweet.
ULA didn’t respond to a request for comment. But on Twitter, Farrar said it’s possible ULA could be scheduling a replacement launch for the prototype Project Kuiper satellites using its older Atlas V rockets. So we’ll have to wait and see.