en.Wedoany.com Reported - The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 00:30 Brasília time on Thursday (2nd), delivering 29 low Earth orbit satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper. Following this launch, the total number of satellites in orbit for the project has increased to 396.

The current number of satellites in orbit is sufficient to support the initial broadband services planned for launch in 2026. Subsequent launches will focus on enhancing network coverage breadth and capacity.

This mission marks the eighth Atlas V rocket launch for Project Kuiper and the 14th operation under the partnership between the two parties. Throughout the collaboration, the Atlas V rocket has delivered a total of 224 constellation satellites into orbit.

Amazon stated that future launches will transition to ULA's Vulcan rocket. This rocket offers greater payload capacity, helping to accelerate the constellation deployment. The company has stockpiled hundreds of satellites awaiting launch at Cape Canaveral and has built a new integration facility to prepare for subsequent missions using the new rocket.

Project Kuiper plans to deploy 3,232 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide broadband services. In June of this year, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Amazon's request for a mid-term deadline waiver, which previously required the project to complete half of its constellation deployment by July 2026. However, the FCC still mandates that the company must complete the deployment of all first-generation satellites by July 30, 2029.

Chris Weber, Vice President of Business and Products for Project Kuiper, noted that the newly launched satellites still need to undergo orbit raising to integrate into the operational constellation. The company stated that after commercial services begin, subsequent launches will focus on expanding network coverage and capacity.