SpaceX Launches 24 Amazon Kuiper Satellites from Cape Canaveral
Tonight, the space and satellite communities are focusing on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, where SpaceX is set to launch 24 more of Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off at 9:34 p.m. EDT (01:34 GMT on Oct. 10), marking another milestone in the rapid expansion of one of the most ambitious satellite internet projects in history.
Project Kuiper aims to build a global, low Earth orbit (LEO) network with roughly 3,200 satellites, designed to deliver high-speed internet access worldwide. With today’s launch, Amazon keeps chipping away at that goal, bringing the total Kuiper spacecraft in orbit closer to the final constellation. Through ongoing missions, the network continues to evolve, promising improved coverage, resilience, and potential benefits for underserved regions as well as enterprise and consumer markets.
What to Expect During the Mission
According to Amazon, the 24 satellites will be deployed from the Falcon 9’s upper stage at an altitude of about 289 miles (465 kilometers). The deployment will occur over a 7.5-minute window, beginning roughly 56.5 minutes after liftoff. After deployment, teams will run initial health checks on the new satellites and coordinate their ascent to an operating altitude of about 392 miles (630 kilometers) where they will be fully commissioned as part of the Kuiper constellation.
As is typical with SpaceX launches, the mission also features a post-liftoff event: the Falcon 9’s first stage is expected to perform a controlled descent and touchdown on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean about eight minutes after liftoff. This booster already has meaningful flight history, having previously supported a Kuiper launch in August, which notably marked SpaceX’s 100th mission of that year.
Why Kuiper Matters and What Comes Next
Amazon’s Kuiper project is more than a single launch cadence. It represents a multi-year effort to provide global internet coverage that can serve rural, remote, and underserved communities, along with commercial and enterprise customers seeking reliable connectivity in challenging environments. The current plan involves not only frequent launches but also a diversified set of launch vehicles. In addition to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, future Kuiper deployments are expected to fly on rockets from Arianespace, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance, among others, as the fleet scales toward thousands of satellites.
With 129 Kuiper satellites already in orbit, the program has built an early operational backbone that could unlock new pricing models, latency improvements, and broader accessibility for consumers and businesses alike when the network becomes more complete. The ongoing cadence of launches signals a committed push toward a functional, global platform capable of rivaling terrestrial broadband in many regions.
Broader Context: The LEO Broadband Race
Kuiper is one of several major megaconstellations pursuing global internet coverage from space. SpaceX’s Starlink already operates thousands of satellites, with more than 8,500 active spacecraft and rapid annual deployment momentum. The rapid expansion of LEO constellations has spurred healthy competition, regulatory scrutiny, and ongoing discussions about orbital traffic management, spectrum use, and the long-term sustainability of crowded orbital lanes.
Observers and industry participants will be watching how Kuiper’s service performance evolves as more satellites come online. The success of future launches, ground infrastructure, and user terminals will shape the practical rollout of Amazon’s broadband plans and potentially influence pricing, coverage maps, and service quality for customers around the world.
How to Watch
SpaceX will offer a live stream of the launch, typically starting about 15 minutes before takeoff. Fans of spaceflight can tune in to catch live telemetry, countdown updates, and a post-launch overview of the satellite deployment sequence and initial health checks.
As the Kuiper constellation grows, industry watchers anticipate a steady rhythm of launches, updates on orbital deployment, and progress toward a mature, globally available satellite internet service.
