Latest news with #ProjectKuiper
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon-ULA rocket launch in Florida: Visibility map shows Nashville, Philadelphia, Boston
Billionaire Jeff Bezos' Project Kuiper: Round two. United Launch Alliance will launch the second batch of Amazon satellites into space − and it's possible people can see the Atlas V rocket far outside of Florida. When ULA launches its massive rocket, depending on cloud cover, Floridians (and visitors) as far as Jacksonville, Cape Coral and Miami could see it light up the sky after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Visibility from most of Florida is possible, according to ULA. What's on board ULA Atlas V? Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is launching Project Kuiper, a global network of satellites, to compete with SpaceX CEO-billionaire Elon Musk and Starlink satellites. It begins with the second-ever launch of the Amazon Project Kuiper production satellites, courtesy of the ULA Atlas V rocket. Online, the mission has been called the "Amazon rocket launch" or "the Amazon rocket launch from Florida,' but it's accurate to call it the Amazon satellite rocket launch or Amazon-ULA rocket launch. Business is booming: Florida's Space Coast is one of fastest-growing economies in U.S. In Florida, we can best see this moment in person, particularly if you're anywhere on the Space Coast (Melbourne, Florida area), the Fun Coast (Daytona Beach area) or the Treasure Coast (Vero Beach, Jensen Beach and Fort Pierce). The Amazon satellite rocket launch is extra special because of the potential to see it in other states. In the past, readers have submitted photos or posted on social platforms pictures of SpaceX Falcon Heavy, which is made up of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages, visible from Myrtle Beach. Other rocket launches have been spotted in New Jersey and Georgia. ULA's Atlas V rocket should be visible outside of Florida pending weather and clouds. Below is information on ULA's powerful rocket, the Atlas V, how to watch the Amazon satellite rocket launch and suggestions on where to watch it from Florida and beyond. Rocket launches in Florida (a big list): Here's a roundup of all 2025 missions from Cape Canaveral and NASA's Kennedy Space Center Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is launching Project Kuiper, a global constellation of 3,232 broadband satellites that will compete for customers with SpaceX founder Elon Musk's sprawling Starlink network. It began with the first-ever launch of Project Kuiper production satellites, courtesy of the massive United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, on April 28, 2025 (see photos above). Rocket launches from the Space Coast of Florida − either from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station − have significantly increased within the past few years, with the bulk of launches from SpaceX and Starlink satellites. But Bezos' Amazon satellite rocket launch, the premiere was known as KA-01 mission, will "deploy all of the satellites safely in orbit, which means they can independently maneuver and communicate with our team on the ground," according to an Amazon news release. "Once the satellites have successfully separated from the rocket, they will begin a series of mostly automated steps to activate onboard systems and use their electric propulsion systems to gradually ascend to their assigned orbit of 392 miles (630 km)," the release said. "The satellites will travel at a speed of more than 17,000 miles per hour (27,359 km per hour) on orbit and circle the planet approximately every 90 minutes." All told, ULA will launch eight Atlas V and 38 Vulcan rockets on Project Kuiper missions. The Amazon initiative has also contracted with SpaceX, Blue Origin and Arianespace, upping the total to 80-plus pending launches. The Monday, June 23, 2025, Amazon satellite rocket launch from Cape Canaveral would be the second for Project Kuiper. On June 20, ULA posted on its social channels: 'The launch of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the second batch of production satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper, Kuiper 2, is now planned for June 23, 2025, pending range approval. The launch is scheduled for 6:54 a.m. EDT at the opening of a 30-minute window, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.' Two previous attempts were scheduled for the Amazon-ULA rocket launch from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Equipped with five side-mounted rocket boosters, the Atlas V will lift the $10 billion internet constellation's second set of satellites (see above) into low-Earth orbit. In Florida, we can best see this moment in person if you're anywhere on the Space Coast (Brevard County) or certain spots in the First Coast or Fun Coast (Volusia County) or the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County). However, people in Jacksonville, far north of Cape Canaveral, and West Palm Beach, far south of Cape Canaveral, have posted rocket launch photos and video on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram. Pro tip: If you do watch it in person, especially on Florida's Space Coast, get to your viewing destination early and prepare to stay later after the launch because of heavy traffic. A rocket launch can be a treat for the ears, too: On the Space Coast, a 'rumble' can be heard or window-shaking can be expected in some parts of Brevard County after liftoff. Where to watch Amazon satellite rocket launch in Daytona Beach area of Florida List of Brevard County cities to watch Amazon satellite rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida Where to watch Amazon satellite rocket launch from Treasure Coast of Florida Where to watch Amazon rocket launch from West Palm Beach area of Florida Where to watch Amazon satellite rocket launch in Jacksonville, Florida Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. ULA provided a helpful graphic (see above) that shows the Atlas V launch of Kuiper 2 for Amazon and its intended flight path and launch visibility. Note: Cities in the Space Coast of Florida, which is in Brevard County and measures 72 miles of coast, include Titusville, Mims, Port St. John, Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Grant-Valkaria and Sebastian. Launch, Space Coast, east Orlando, near University of Central Florida, Bithlo, the northern part of the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, parts of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill 1: Launch + 30 seconds, Space Coast, Orlando, the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, Volusia County, St. Augustine, Ocala, Lakeland area 2: Launch + 90 seconds, which includes PLF Jettison or separation and jettison of the payload fairing: Space Coast, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Port Orange, Volusia County, Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, Central Florida, Ocala, Lakeland, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach 3: Launch + 150 seconds, which includes solid rocket booster jettison, visibility extends to Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Collier County, Lee County, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, southern Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, parts of the Caribbean, the Bahamas 4: Launch + 210 seconds, which includes booster separation, Tallahassee, Panama City, Panhandle, Big Bend area of Florida; visibility extends beyond Florida to Georgia, South Carolina, parts of North Carolina 5: Launch + 270 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities: Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, Georgia Alabama; Dothan, Alabama; just outside Birmingham, Alabama Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; just outside Huntsville, Tennessee; just outside Nashville, Tennessee Kentucky South Carolina; Spartanburg, South Carolina North Carolina; High Point, North Carolina; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina Virginia; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia West Virginia; Charleston, West Virginia Maryland; Washington, Maryland Delaware; Annapolis, Delaware; Dover, Delaware 6: Launch + 330 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities: New Jersey: Trenton, New Jersey; New York, New Jersey Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Erie, Pennsylvania Ohio: Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio Indiana: just outside Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Wayne, Indiana Michigan: Detroit, Michigan Kentucky: just outside Louisville, Kentucky Rhode Island: Providence, Rhode Island Connecticut: Hartford, Connecticut Massachusetts: Boston, Massachusetts New York: Binghamton, New York; Albany, New York 7: Launch + 390 seconds, visibility of Atlas V rocket may be possible in these states: Alabama Tennessee Kentucky Georgia South Carolina North Carolina Virginia West Virginia Ohio Indiana Michigan Delaware Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Rhode Island Connecticut Massachusetts New Hampshire Vermont Maine Toronto, Canada The above guidelines are estimates based on the graphic provided by ULA. When and where: Full coverage of the launch, including a live webcast with live tweets and updates, kicks off two hours before liftoff at (you can type this on your browser on your phone) and will feature in-depth coverage. Ask our FLORIDA TODAY space team reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards questions and strike up a conversation. You also can watch coverage via the FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type into your browser. FLORIDA TODAY is part of the USA TODAY Network. Click here to download FLORIDA TODAY app on App Store Click here to download FLORIDA TODAY app on Google Play Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Amazon-ULA Atlas V rocket launch in Florida: What time is liftoff?
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk's Starlink gets approval to launch India operations: Expected price, hardware requirement and more
Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has officially secured operating rights in India, a development confirmed by union minister for communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). This approval essentially means that Starlink can now provide its services in the competitive Indian telecommunications market. The confirmation follows a "productive meeting" between Scindia and SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell. Their discussions, as detailed by Scindia on X, "delved into opportunities for collaboration in satellite communications to power Digital India's soaring ambitions and empower every citizen across the country." Shotwell reportedly expressed appreciation for the license, calling it "a great start to the journey." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo This regulatory milestone comes just days after Starlink was issued the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) permit by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Starlink now stands as the third company to receive such a permit, joining Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications in the race to offer commercial satellite internet services across India. Amazon's Project Kuiper is also poised to enter the market, pending its own regulatory approvals. Starlink's collaboration with Jio, Airtel Telecom giants Airtel and Jio have already announced partnerships with Starlink. These partnerships are crucial, as Jio and Airtel collectively command over 70% of the Indian telecommunications market, providing extensive retail networks for Starlink's equipment distribution and offering customer service, installation, and activation support, particularly in remote and underserved regions. Starlink price in India While there is no official information about the price for the services, a report by The Economic Times last month claimed that Starlink may introduce unlimited data plans in India for less than $10 (approximately Rs 840) per month at promotional rates. It also cited industry experts as saying that despite substantial spectrum and licensing costs, satellite internet providers are likely to adopt a low entry price to rapidly expand their user base, aiming for up to 10 million subscribers in the medium to long term. However, a widespread adoption for Starlink in India may face hurdles, particularly concerning hardware costs. Globally, Starlink's hardware kits range from $250 (approx. Rs 21,300) to $380 (approx. Rs 32,400). This represents a significant upfront investment compared to existing Indian home broadband offerings, which typically feature much lower hardware costs, provide speeds up to 1 Gbps, and often bundle Over-The-Top (OTT) app subscriptions. The Future of Fast Internet: Satellite Tech Explained AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Axios
4 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Amazon boosts Washington's space workforce
Aerospace jobs are booming in Washington state, and Amazon is helping some frontline employees trade warehouse gigs for the stars. Why it matters: Washington is becoming a hub in the commercial space race, and Amazon's education benefits are helping train a new generation of satellite-savvy workers for the company's Project Kuiper and beyond. By the numbers: Redmond-based companies produce more than half of the satellites in Earth's orbit, according to the Washington State Department of Commerce and the Redmond Space District, a business consortium of local aerospace companies. Statewide, the space sector supports more than 13,000 jobs and generates $4.6 billion in economic activity and nearly $80 million in annual state taxes, per the state. The latest: Three of the nine March graduates of Lake Washington Institute of Technology's new aerospace manufacturing and assembly certificate programs were Amazon workers, said company spokesperson Max Gleber. The programs — developed with input from Amazon — are open to the public, but eligible Amazon employees have their tuition fully paid through the company, he said. What they're saying: Project Kuiper, Amazon's satellite internet initiative, is based in Redmond, and company execs are betting on local talent to help fill the job pipeline, Amazon VP of public policy and community engagement Brian Huseman told Axios. "Washington state is becoming the Silicon Valley of space, and we want that to continue," he said. Certificate programs like those at LWTech help residents "learn those skills and get those jobs." Catch up quick: Project Kuiper is Amazon's plan to launch thousands of low-Earth-orbit satellites to expand global broadband access. Zoom in: Dezmond Hernandez, 24, spent about three years in Amazon fulfillment centers, earning around $15 an hour before he applied for an inventory job with Project Kuiper to get his foot in the door, he told Axios. While working full time, he enrolled in aerospace manufacturing and assembly courses at LWTech. Now he works at the company's space simulation lab in Redmond, testing satellites in vacuum chambers, reviewing data, and troubleshooting systems. His salary has more than doubled, he said. "It really is life-changing," he told Axios last week. "I always had an interest in space, but I never thought I'd be working on satellites."
Scroll.in
4 days ago
- Business
- Scroll.in
Starlink: India's new satellite internet rules are a fresh hurdle – what five experts think
This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology's impact outside the West. India has just made it harder for Starlink to enter the market. Around two months after Starlink announced retail partnerships with the country's leading telecom operators, India – home to the world's second-largest internet user base – introduced a new set of rules that satellite internet providers must comply with for permission to operate. The 29-point directive issued on May 5 mandates that companies provide real-time location tracking, data localisation, metadata sharing, and website blocking as well as set up surveillance zones near borders. The new rules come in the wake of a surge in tensions between India and neighboring Pakistan. The rules will affect existing license holders, like Indian telecom giants Airtel and Jio, as well as those awaiting regulatory approvals, like Amazon's Project Kuiper and Elon Musk's Starlink. Rest of World spoke to telecom experts to understand the implications of the new rules. The comments have been edited for length and clarity. Delay in rollout Varun Gupta, senior analyst, Counterpoint Technology Market Research 'The new rules represent a welcome step toward regulatory clarity, which was previously lacking. Certain aspects of these rules will be enabled for the first time in any market where satellite internet has been used. Their implementation could delay the rollout of satellite broadband services, as potential operators may need time to test these requirements in the Indian context. This might involve conducting live proof-of-concept trials, which could further extend the timelines for commercial readiness.' Starlink's prospects Pulkit Pandey, director analyst, Gartner 'Indian telecom companies are aware of regulatory norms, making it relatively easier for them to adapt to these guidelines. However, for organisations such as Starlink and Kuiper, this could be an additional step to receive their licence.' Varun Yadav, lawyer at Indian legal firm S&R Associates 'The issuance of formal guidelines is a positive step for any pending applicant, including Starlink, as it replaces uncertainty. However, certain provisions – such as traffic routing through Indian gateways and user terminal-level controls – may necessitate operational adjustments. Whether this facilitates or delays licensing will depend on the applicant's alignment with the framework and responsiveness to national security considerations.' Irina Tsukerman, a New York–based human rights and national security lawyer 'Starlink's entire model is built on global interoperability, low latency, and centralised deployment. India wants the opposite – fragmented control, localised nodes, and bilateral oversight. If Starlink is willing to adapt – to Indianise its operating model, to accept bureaucratic encumbrances, and to play by India's hard rules – then yes, the market is enormous and the rewards tempting. But if it insists on moving fast and breaking things, it will find itself permanently grounded.' Not unprecedented Raman Jit Singh Chima, senior international counsel and Asia Pacific policy director, Access Now 'India is responding to pressures from security establishments, which want to carefully and tightly control the deployment of satellite internet. They're quite hostile to the expansion of satellite internet. But this is not unprecedented. Other countries also have their requirements. For example, South Africa has requirements regarding being able to work with South African businesses or being owned by South Africans, particularly those from less economically empowered communities in the past. Musk has categorically been railing against that publicly as a concern, as an impediment holding South Africa back. You have similar requirements, on the books, in Nigeria, which haven't necessarily been implemented with Starlink.' Varun Gupta, senior analyst, Counterpoint Technology Market Research 'There are precedents from countries like China and Russia. However, the requirement for 20% indigenisation is unique to India. This move is expected to boost the local ecosystem. Companies like Starlink could benefit from it, particularly through its partnerships with Jio and Airtel. These domestic players have an established ecosystem for telecom equipment production and can collaborate with Starlink to co-develop products, potentially accelerating time to market for their satellite broadband services.'
Digital Trends
5 days ago
- Business
- Digital Trends
Amazon's Kuiper satellite launch called off 30 minutes before liftoff
Amazon is keen to get its second batch of internet satellites into orbit, but it won't be happening just yet. The launch of 27 Project Kuiper satellites was set to take place early Monday afternoon ET at Cape Canaveral in Florida, but just 30 minutes from liftoff, rocket operator United Launch Alliance (ULA) said it was standing down for the day 'due to an engineering observation of an elevated purge temperature within the booster engine' on its Atlas V vehicle. In simple terms, this means part of the booster became too hot and needs to be investigated. Recommended Videos ULA said it will release a new launch date just as soon as one is decided. The rocket had been due to launch last Friday, but poor weather conditions prompted mission planners to shift the date to Monday. Similar to SpaceX's established Starlink service, Amazon's Project Kuiper aims to provide fast, affordable broadband internet to customers globally. It's particularly keen to serve locations where fiber, cable, or cellular infrastructure is unavailable or unreliable, such as rural and mountainous areas, while the service could also play an important role in disaster zones — something that Starlink has done a number of times in recent years to support emergency and relief efforts. The company plans to deploy a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit, which will be completed by 2029 at the latest. Before then, Amazon is aiming to launch a high-speed broadband service by the end of this year with around 1,000 satellites, though building the constellation over time will improve network performance and reliability for what the company expects to be a growing customer base. To deploy its internet satellites, Amazon has secured more than 90 rocket launches with a slew of spaceflight firms that include not only ULA but also ArianeGroup, Blue Origin, and even SpaceX, spending more than $10 billion in launch contracts. Customers signing up to the Project Kuiper service will be able to choose from three types of user terminals: a compact 7-inch square model for portability (up to 100 Mbps), a standard 11-inch model for households (up to 400 Mbps), and a larger model for enterprises (up to 1 Gbps). Amazon expects to sell its standard customer terminal for around $400 per unit, which would make it about $50 more expensive than Starlink's terminal for residential customers. Interested in watching the launch? Digital Trends has everything you need to know.
