Amazon has postponed the inaugural launch of its Kuiper internet satellites due to unfavorable weather conditions at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket carrying 27 Kuiper satellites was unable to proceed with countdown operations on Wednesday night because of “stubborn cumulus clouds” and heavy winds that pushed the launch outside its planned window.
“Weather is observed and forecast NO GO for liftoff within the remaining launch window at Cape Canaveral this evening,” ULA announced during its livestream. The company plans to provide a new launch date in the future.
Amazon unveiled its plans for a constellation of low Earth orbit internet satellites six years ago. These satellites, positioned within 1,200 miles of Earth’s surface, aim to provide high-speed, low-latency internet connections to consumers, corporations, and governments through square-shaped terminals. The company expects to begin commercial service later this year.
The delay represents a setback in Amazon’s race to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink, which currently dominates the satellite internet market with approximately 8,000 satellites already in orbit. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has recently gained significant influence in the federal government as one of President Donald Trump’s top advisors, overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Since Musk assumed this role, Starlink has expanded its presence within federal government operations.
Time is a critical factor for Amazon, as the Federal Communications Commission has mandated that the company must have half of its total constellation 1,618 satellites deployed by July 2026. Despite this initial delay, Amazon is preparing satellites for its next mission, which will also launch aboard one of ULA’s Atlas V rockets.
Once Amazon successfully completes its first launch, the company plans to accelerate its production, processing, and deployment rates to meet the FCC deadline and establish itself as a competitive force in the satellite internet market.
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