Amazon books rocket flights for its Kuiper broadband internet satellites
(2022/04/06)
- Reference: 1649196724
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/04/05/kuiper/
- Source link:
Amazon's proposed broadband satellite constellation, Project Kuiper, has inched closer to making it into orbit, even if some of the rockets it intends to use have yet to take their first flights.
On Tuesday Amazon [1]announced deals with Arianespace, United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Blue Origin (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' pet project) to launch the majority of its 3,236 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit. "It is the largest commercial procurement of launch vehicles in history," the web giant modestly proclaimed.
The biz did not disclose timings, nor did it state how many of the Kuiper satellites would be riding on each rocket. However, it did say it had secured 18 Ariane 6 rockets as part of the initial agreement, "the largest we've ever signed," according to Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace.
[2]
Another 38 launches will be on ULA's Vulcan Centaur, a figure in addition to the existing nine Atlas V rockets already procured for Project Kuiper from the orbital biz. ULA president and CEO Tory Bruno noted: "We are proud to launch the majority of this important constellation."
[3]
[4]
Finally, Blue Origin has been signed up for 12 launches using the yet-to-fly New Glenn rocket, with options for a further 15. Unlike ULA's launcher and the Ariane 6, the first stage of the New Glenn is expected to be reusable.
Ignoring the obvious option
As is the SpaceX Falcon 9, which was conspicuous in its absence from Amazon's shopping basket. Rival constellation slinger OneWeb has already turned to SpaceX after its rides to orbit fell victim to sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.
[5]Amazon hasn't launched one internet satellite yet, but it's now planning a fleet of 7,774
[6]Amazon aims to launch prototype broadband internet satellites by Q4 2022 – without Bezos' Blue Origin
[7]OneWeb turns to SpaceX for satellite launches
[8]Hooking up to Starlink might be pricier than you thought
Although it is unclear when the bulk of the launches will take place ( [9]the FCC approved the plan in 2020 ) Amazon intends rattle through the missions during a five-year period.
Ambitious, considering that aside from the Atlas V (which has reached the end of the line, bar those missions already scheduled) none of the selected launchers has troubled a launchpad as yet. The replacement for the workhorse Ariane 5, the Ariane 6, is unlikely to make its maiden flight before 2023. The New Glenn is similarly unlikely to fly before 2023.
And the Vulcan Centaur?
[10]
A 2022 first flight of the Atlas V replacement is dependent on delivery of a set of flightworthy BE-4 engines from Blue Origin which, at time of writing, have yet to be supplied.
Time is getting tight for Amazon. A glance at its FCC license shows that it must have half of the Project Kuiper satellites in orbit "no later than July 30, 2026." The rest must join them by July 30, 2029.
With SpaceX's Falcon 9 seemingly out of the running, Amazon is more dependent than ever on fellow Bezos company Blue Origin making good on those BE-4 engines. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://press.aboutamazon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/amazon-secures-83-launches-arianespace-blue-origin-and-united
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Yk0QcSWvuZl3bqddMESupwAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Yk0QcSWvuZl3bqddMESupwAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
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[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/05/amazon_satellite_internet/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/02/amazon_kuipersat_broadband/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/21/oneweb_spacex/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/23/starlink_spacex_spendy/
[9] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-authorizes-kuiper-satellite-constellation
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Yk0QcSWvuZl3bqddMESupwAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
On Tuesday Amazon [1]announced deals with Arianespace, United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Blue Origin (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' pet project) to launch the majority of its 3,236 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit. "It is the largest commercial procurement of launch vehicles in history," the web giant modestly proclaimed.
The biz did not disclose timings, nor did it state how many of the Kuiper satellites would be riding on each rocket. However, it did say it had secured 18 Ariane 6 rockets as part of the initial agreement, "the largest we've ever signed," according to Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace.
[2]
Another 38 launches will be on ULA's Vulcan Centaur, a figure in addition to the existing nine Atlas V rockets already procured for Project Kuiper from the orbital biz. ULA president and CEO Tory Bruno noted: "We are proud to launch the majority of this important constellation."
[3]
[4]
Finally, Blue Origin has been signed up for 12 launches using the yet-to-fly New Glenn rocket, with options for a further 15. Unlike ULA's launcher and the Ariane 6, the first stage of the New Glenn is expected to be reusable.
Ignoring the obvious option
As is the SpaceX Falcon 9, which was conspicuous in its absence from Amazon's shopping basket. Rival constellation slinger OneWeb has already turned to SpaceX after its rides to orbit fell victim to sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.
[5]Amazon hasn't launched one internet satellite yet, but it's now planning a fleet of 7,774
[6]Amazon aims to launch prototype broadband internet satellites by Q4 2022 – without Bezos' Blue Origin
[7]OneWeb turns to SpaceX for satellite launches
[8]Hooking up to Starlink might be pricier than you thought
Although it is unclear when the bulk of the launches will take place ( [9]the FCC approved the plan in 2020 ) Amazon intends rattle through the missions during a five-year period.
Ambitious, considering that aside from the Atlas V (which has reached the end of the line, bar those missions already scheduled) none of the selected launchers has troubled a launchpad as yet. The replacement for the workhorse Ariane 5, the Ariane 6, is unlikely to make its maiden flight before 2023. The New Glenn is similarly unlikely to fly before 2023.
And the Vulcan Centaur?
[10]
A 2022 first flight of the Atlas V replacement is dependent on delivery of a set of flightworthy BE-4 engines from Blue Origin which, at time of writing, have yet to be supplied.
Time is getting tight for Amazon. A glance at its FCC license shows that it must have half of the Project Kuiper satellites in orbit "no later than July 30, 2026." The rest must join them by July 30, 2029.
With SpaceX's Falcon 9 seemingly out of the running, Amazon is more dependent than ever on fellow Bezos company Blue Origin making good on those BE-4 engines. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://press.aboutamazon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/amazon-secures-83-launches-arianespace-blue-origin-and-united
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Yk0QcSWvuZl3bqddMESupwAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Yk0QcSWvuZl3bqddMESupwAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Yk0QcSWvuZl3bqddMESupwAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/05/amazon_satellite_internet/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/02/amazon_kuipersat_broadband/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/21/oneweb_spacex/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/23/starlink_spacex_spendy/
[9] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-authorizes-kuiper-satellite-constellation
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Yk0QcSWvuZl3bqddMESupwAAAIk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Said Jeff to Jeff...
Sorry that handle is already taken.
...where are my engines, me?
Obviously.
Because why use the most stable, busiest and most cost-effective launch platform to launch your sats? Amazon aren't sat on endless cash for nothing y'know?
Amazon aren't going away any time soon, doesn't mean you have to run your business like it's a government with masses of wastage and poorly-selected contract partners. You /could/ do other, interesting things, with that money and I suspect some would argue you could pay your warehouse staff more - but what do I know, it's a free market and whatnot..
I talked about this with OneWeb when the whole Russia thing blew up, people thought I was nuts for suggesting that they use SpaceX (and should have been all along) - like it's bad to make your business more streamlined on costs or use the best available launch platform, you're not in competition with SpaceX you're in competition with Starlink and Starlink is going to exist regardless of if you use SpaceX to launch - at least keep your costs down and successes high and give yourself a fighting chance.