After a successful test mission, Amazon is set to deorbit two prototype satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2.
Amazon's ambitious Project Kuiper, greenlighted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2020, aims to deploy a constellation of over 3,000 satellites to provide global broadband internet coverage.
Amazon successfully tested and will deorbit two prototype satellites, gearing up to launch 3,000 more for global broadband under Project Kuiper, aiming for universal internet access.Image via Amazon
Amazon Reports 100% Successful Test Mission
The two prototype satellites were launched in October 2023 aboard an Atlas 5 rocket from United Launch Alliance, a collaboration between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Over the past several months, these satellites have undergone extensive testing in low Earth orbit. Amazon reported a "100% success rate across our key mission objectives, with every major system and subsystem on board performing nominally or better on orbit."
Following the successful completion of their mission, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 will now be deorbited. This process involves gradually lowering their orbital altitude from approximately 475 kilometers (295 miles) to 217 kilometers (135 miles).
Over the next few months, the satellites will use their onboard propulsion systems to execute controlled maneuvers. Combined with the natural drag from Earth's atmosphere, these maneuvers will eventually cause the satellites to burn up upon reentry.
This deorbiting strategy is part of Amazon's broader commitment to space safety and sustainability. By ensuring that satellites are deorbited within a year of their mission ending, Amazon aims to address the growing concern over space debris.
According to data from NASA, only 9,000 of the 16,990 satellites put into orbit since 1957 remain operational. This leaves a massive graveyard of floating space debris in low Earth orbit (LEO).
The data collected from this final phase of Kuiper's Protoflight mission will be invaluable in refining the deorbit process for future satellites.
As Amazon deorbits its test satellites, the company is gearing up for the next phase of Project Kuiper. Reuters reports that the first operational satellites are expected to launch "in the coming months."
Amazon's preparations include scaling up satellite manufacturing at Kirkland and Redmond, Washington facilities and constructing a dedicated satellite-processing facility at Kennedy Space Center.
In addition to manufacturing, Amazon is establishing the necessary ground infrastructure to support its satellite network. This includes installing gateway stations and telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C) sites across multiple countries.
With over 2,000 people working on Project Kuiper, Amazon invests heavily in the infrastructure and personnel needed to operate and scale its network.
Amazon Kuiper's Vision of Global Connectivity
Project Kuiper aims to bring high-speed, low-latency broadband to underserved and remote communities worldwide.
By deploying a network of over 3,000 satellites, Amazon aims to provide reliable internet access where traditional infrastructure is lacking.
According to the company, this initiative has the potential to bridge the digital divide and foster economic growth and educational opportunities in regions that have been historically disconnected.
