this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2025
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ULA Project Kuiper (KA-01) launch thread! (take two) (self.spaceflight)
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spaceflight
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Welcome everyone!

This follows a previous launch attempt on April 10th, which was scrubbed due to weather.

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-04-28 23:01 | |

|

| | Scheduled for (local) | 2025-04-28 19:01 (EDT) | | Launch site | SLC-41, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA. | | Launch vehicle | Atlas V 551 | | Launch provider | United Launch Alliance (ULA) | | Customer | Amazon Kuiper Systems | | Payload | KA-01 | | Target orbit | LEO |

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |

|

| | ULA | https://www.youtube.com/@unitedlaunchalliance/streams | | NASASpaceflight | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw96eOC2iPs | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQuTcF_d6Ls | | Spaceflight Now | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cJ21DHYtbQ | | The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlQfiGzmjd8 | | Everyday Astronaut | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_he20zjJZTw |

Launch statistics

☑️ 1st Atlas V mission of 2025

☑️ 1st ULA mission of 2025

☑️ 102nd Atlas V mission overall

☑️ 164th ULA mission overall

Mission Details 🚀

Project Kuiper is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. This constellation is planned to be composed of 3,236 satellites. The satellites are projected to be placed in 98 orbital planes in three orbital layers, one at 590 km, 610 km, and 630 km altitude.

Previous ULA launch: Vulcan Cert-2

Next ULA launch: TBD

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[–] threelonmusketeers 2 points 6 days ago

ULA mission page confirms satellite deployment:

All Kuiper 1 satellites have successfully deployed into space! Congratulations to Amazon and the Project Kuiper team for this amazing achievement, and thank you for entrusting United Launch Alliance and the Atlas V rocket to deliver this critical moment.

[–] threelonmusketeers 1 points 6 days ago

Per ULA mission page:

T+plus 18 minutes, 10 seconds. Main engine cutoff, or MECO, is confirmed for the Centaur upper stage. The Atlas V rocket has reached low Earth orbit with the first satellites of Amazon's Project Kuiper advanced broadband satellite constellation.

[–] threelonmusketeers 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Booster engines cut-off, stage separation, and Centaur upper stage ignition confirmed.

Edit: Webcast coverage ending, no further views from the upper stage.

[–] threelonmusketeers 1 points 6 days ago

Fairing jettison confirmed.

[–] threelonmusketeers 1 points 6 days ago

SRB burnout and jettison confirmed.

[–] threelonmusketeers 1 points 6 days ago

Liftoff!

[–] threelonmusketeers 1 points 6 days ago

Go no-go poll is complete, they are go for launch!