CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, FL – The most powerful version of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket poised for liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast on Monday afternoon June 16 – ready to blast the second batch of Amazons Project Kuiper broadband constellation of commercial internet comsats to orbit – setting up a new system for direct head-to-head competition with the already well-established SpaceX Starlink satellite system.
The Atlas V 551 rocket is targeting liftoff from Space Launch Complex-41 at 1:25 p.m. EDT, on the Kuiper-2 mission delivering the 2nd batch of 27 operational Amazon Kuiper commercial comsats to orbit – thereby expanding the Kuiper orbital constellation of broadband internet satellites.
The launch window extends 30 minutes. Backup launch day Tuesday June 17
Enjoy our prelaunch photos from the Space UpClose team of Ken Kremer and Jean Wright taken today Fathers Day, June 15, during media remote camera setup at pad 41
The Atlas V will launch in its most powerful 551 configuration known as “The Bruiser” – spewing over 2.5 million pounds of liftoff thrust from the first stage powered by a dual nozzle RD-180 engine and 5 strap on solid rocket boosters SRBs.
The Atlas V will launch on a northeasterly trajectory up the US East Coast
Kuiper-2 marks the second of many full-scale launches in service of Amazon’s Project Kuiper under contract to ULA
The Kuiper constellation will eventually comprise over 3200 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
The Kuiper satellites will be launched across 98 orbital planes at 590 km, 610 km and 630 km in altitude.
Spent this fantastic Father’s Day morning setting up cameras in the shadow of “The Bruiser” – ULA most powerful Atlas V rocket in 551 configuration. For tomorrows launch of 2nd batch Kuiper broadband internet sats for Amazon on Kuiper 2 mission at 125 PM pad 41 Mon Jun 16 United Launch Alliance
You can watch Live broadcast coverage of launch available at: www.ulalaunch.com
The Kuiper 2 launch broadcast will begin at 1:05 p.m. EDT
Today’s forecast shows a 75 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.
Atlas V Kuiper 2 mission information available here.
Pre-launch processing photos can be found here.
Launch Forecast Summary:
Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 25%
Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule
Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24-hour delay: 25%
Primary concern: Cumulus Cloud Rule
The rocket will fly northeasterly
To date SpaceX Starlink constellation consists of over 7000 satellites already in orbit and serving over 6 million customers
My interviews about Kuiper 1
Apr 28/29: WESH 2 NBC News Orlando: Watch my prelaunch interview comments on April 28 about ULA Atlas V Amazon Kuiper 1 mission to launch and deploy 1st 27 operational Kuiper internet sats to compete with Starlink. Also featured 2 of my prelaunch rocket photos at pad 41 CCSFS
story/video: https://www.wesh.com/article/amazon-slaunching-own-satellites-space-project-kuiper-ula/64612880
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