After weather delays forced four scrubs, Amazon’s Kuiper satellite mission finally reached orbit on Monday, August 11, 2025, as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 carried 24 of the company’s internet-beaming satellites aloft from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The liftoff occurred from Launch Complex 40 at 8:35 a.m. Eastern Time, with SpaceX confirming about an hour later that all 24 Kuiper satellites were successfully deployed. This launch marks the fourth Kuiper mission and brings Amazon’s in-orbit Kuiper fleet to 102 satellites.
The mission had originally been scheduled for last Thursday, but weather forced multiple postponements over several days. For the second time, Amazon turned to SpaceX—its rival in the growing low-Earth orbit satellite market—to help build out the constellation after similar collaborations on prior deployments.
Why it matters: The continued expansion of the Kuiper constellation is a critical step toward Amazon’s goal of delivering global broadband coverage. Reaching 102 satellites in orbit demonstrates steady progress toward a much larger network, with additional launches expected to fill out the system over time. The partnership with SpaceX also highlights the increasingly competitive landscape in sector-wide efforts to provide high-speed internet from space.
Editor’s note: The successful deployment reinforces the potential for expanded connectivity, particularly in underserved regions, while underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by weather and launch scheduling in the Cape Canaveral area. Positive momentum persists as more satellites are added to the Kuiper system.