Satnews 3/19/2025
The massive Amazon-backed broadband-by-satellite system, Project Kuiper, is potentially going to miss its regulatory obligations according to reports. It seems that comments made at the recent Satellite 2025 show in Washington suggest that shortage of rocket launch availability will impact Kuiper’s availability.On March 11th, Kuiper updated the Federal Communications Commission with a small reduction of the constellation’s number of craft to be orbited. Kuiper now says it only wants 7,736 satellites, down 38 from its earlier plan.
Back in July 2020, Kuiper received authorization for an initial constellation of 3,236 craft, but with the requirement that at least 50 per cent (now 1,616) must be in orbit by July 30th 2026. The remaining 50 per cent must be orbiting by July 30th 2029. Other than a couple of test satellites (Tintin 1 and 2, in 2023) there have been no launches.
The obligatory FCC date now looks like proving to be a challenge.
Logistically, Kuiper is facing a nightmare. It reserved nine launches on the huge Atlas 5 Vulcan Centaur rocket from United Launch Alliance, but the rocket has not flown since January 2024.
More:
https://news.satnews.com/2025/03/19/project-kuiper-facing-regulatory-deadline/
