Subscribe with SteadyKuiper P1, P2
Kuiper P1 and P2 are prototype satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper 3200 satellite broadband megaconstellation.
Kuiper-P1 and P2 will demonstrate the technology Amazon plans to deploy in the full operational constellation, including phased array and parabolic antennas, power and propulsion systems, and custom-designed modems. The satellites will perform demonstrations with the customer terminal.
The satellites feature a Ka-band prototype broadband payload and operate from a 590 km orbit.
The two satellites are not part of the operational constellation and will be deorbited at the end of their lifetime.
The first two satellites were to be orbited on two ABL RS1 rockets in late 2022. Due to launch vehicle delays, the satellites were remanifested on the maiden Vulcan Centaur VC2S in 2023. Due to further delays caused by Vulcan, it was decided to move both satellites to a dedicated Atlas-5(501).
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Experimental Communication |
| Operator: | Kuiper Sytems (Amazon) |
| Contractors: | Kuiper Sytems (Amazon) |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | |
| Propulsion: | ? |
| Power: | Solar arrays, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: | 590 km × 590 km, 30° |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuiper P1 | 2023-154B | 06.10.2023 | CC SLC-41 | Atlas-5(501) | with Kuiper 2 | |
| Kuiper P2 | 2023-154A | 06.10.2023 | CC SLC-41 | Atlas-5(501) | with Kuiper 1 |
Launch Sites:
- CC = Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA
References:
- SpaceNews: ABL Space Systems to launch Project Kuipers first satellites in 2022, 1 November 2021
