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Some details from Everyday Astronaut: Project Kuiper Protoflight | Atlas V 501

United Launch Alliance is preparing for the first launch of Project Kuiper’s mega satellite constellation. This launch will take two prototype satellites to orbit. Launch will take place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, United States from Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41).

Lift Off Time: October 6, 2023 – 18:00 UTC | 14:00 EDT
Mission Name: Project Kuiper Protoflight
Launch Provider: United Launch Alliance (ULA) Customer: Kuiper Systems LLC, also known as Project Kuiper (a subsidiary of Amazon)
Rocket: Atlas V 501
Launch Location: Space Launch Complex-41 (SLC-41)
Payload mass: Not specified, up to 8,123 kg (17,908 lb)
Where will the satellites go?: Low-Earth orbit
Will they be attempting to recover the first stage?: No, this is not a capability of the Atlas V rocket
Where will the first stage land?: It will crash into the Atlantic Ocean
Are these fairings new?: Yes
This is the:
– 2nd launch of the Atlas V rocket in 2023
– 3rd mission for ULA in 2023
– 99th overall Atlas V mission
– 158th overall ULA mission
– 1st launch of an Atlas V 501 since 2020
– 161st orbital launch attempt of 2023

Interesting naming system for Atlas V 501:
5 meter fairing
0 SRB
1 Centaur upper stage engine.

Not impressed. Their competitor launches his own satellites on his own rockets, as well as launching other company’s satellites, the government’s satellites, and even delivers the government’s astronauts to the ISS. Oh, and in his spare time he’s developing rockets to go to Mars.

All Amazon is doing is hitching a ride on a vehicle produced by a consortium that is hanging on by a thread because its outdated business model can barely produce a functional launch vehicle, even though they spend multiples of what SpaceX does.