Amazon has unveiled plans for a significant investment in the Kuiper project, earmarking $120 million to construct a processing center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This investment aligns with Amazon's overarching commitment of approximately $10 billion for the Kuiper initiative. It aims to establish a vast network of 3,200 low Earth-orbiting satellites, providing broadband internet services worldwide.
Designed as a direct competitor to SpaceX's Starlink, led by Elon Musk, Amazon's Kuiper internet network is poised to further bolster its already prominent web services portfolio.
The newly proposed facility in Florida spans an impressive 100,000 square feet and will play a crucial role in the Kuiper satellite deployment process. Serving as the last destination for Amazon's Kuiper satellites before their journey to space, these satellites will be produced at the primary plant in Redmond, Washington, and meticulously integrated into rocket payload fairings within the facility's ten-story-tall room.
Construction of the facility started in January, with an expected completion date in late 2024. In the first half of 2025, Amazon aims to dispatch the initial batch of satellites to the Florida facility for processing. The company's objective is to launch its first mass-produced satellites by early 2024 and achieve half of the network's deployment into orbit by 2026, in compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements.
To support its ambitious plans, Amazon has already secured numerous heavy-lift rocket launch contracts in collaboration with esteemed companies like United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin, collectively valued at billions of dollars.
The first prototype satellites are scheduled to launch into space later this year, with comprehensive testing of the service with government and business clients set to start in 2024.
Regarding funding, while Amazon is eligible for state grants from Space Florida for transportation-related projects, the company has not yet received any funding, according to Amazon spokesperson Anna Farrar.