Watch Atlas V rocket launch 1st big batch of Amazon's Project Kuiper internet satellites today afer delay

🔴 LIVE 🔴 Rocket Launch: Atlas V Kuiper 1 - YouTube 🔴 LIVE 🔴 Rocket Launch: Atlas V Kuiper 1 - YouTube
Watch On

Amazon's first big batch of Project Kuiper broadband satellites will take flight today (April 28) after weeks of delay due to weather, and you can watch the action live.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch 27 Project Kuiper satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today during a two-hour window that opens at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT). You can watch the liftoff live here at Space.com courtesy of ULA or directly via the company. Coverage will start at 6:35 p.m. EDT (2235 GMT).

An attempted launch on April 9 was scrubbed due to weather concerns, and launch range availability pushed the flight back even further.

The sun shines behind a white and brown Atlas V rocket carrying Amazon's Kuiper 1 satellites for an April 29, 2025 launch.

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket sits on Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) at Cape Canaveral at sunset. The Atlas V will launch the Kuiper 1 mission for Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband satellite constellation (Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

"We are back on the Range with the Mighty Atlas in its Bruiser configuration for Amazon’s KA01 mission," ULA CEO Tory Bruno wrote on social media today, using a nickname for the Atlas V rocket's launch configuration, which will use five solid rocket boosters to assist the liftoff. "Working no issues. Weather [percent go] is 75%."

Related: Atlas V rocket launches Amazon's 1st 2 internet satellites to orbit (video)

Project Kuiper is Amazon's planned broadband megaconstellation in low Earth orbit. The initial network will consist of about 3,200 satellites, Amazon representatives have said.

Amazon will assemble that big constellation over more than 80 launches, the majority of them performed by the Atlas V and its successor, ULA's new Vulcan Centaur. Amazon has also procured launches from Arianespace, Blue Origin and SpaceX.

Today's launch will be the first to send fully operational Kuiper craft skyward and the second of any type for the program: An Atlas V lofted two prototype Kuiper satellites in October 2023.

Editor's note: This story, originally posted on April 9 for ULA's first launch attempt, has been updated for the company's ne wApril 28 launch attempt.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Mike Wall
Senior Space Writer

Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with Space.com and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military space, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat. His book about the search for alien life, "Out There," was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To find out what his latest project is, you can follow Michael on Twitter.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.