Amazon is making significant strides in its satellite venture, Project Kuiper, as it plans to invest $120 million in a satellite processing facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The facility’s construction is already underway, and it will be strategically situated near the launch operators responsible for sending Kuiper satellites into orbit, including Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance.
The 100,000-square-foot processing facility will be located at KSC’s Launch and Landing Facility, which Space Florida currently maintains and operates. The new site will play a crucial role in Project Kuiper’s full-scale production launches and early customer pilots scheduled for the following year.
Steve Metayer, VP of Kuiper Production Operations, expressed pride in partnering with Space Florida to bolster the space industry’s growth in Florida and the United States. The facility will support the skilled operations and manufacturing team and contribute to the ambitious plan for Project Kuiper’s satellite constellation.
Amazon intends to begin satellite manufacturing at its facility in Kirkland, Washington, later this year. The newly established Florida site will receive satellite shipments and conduct final check-outs before launch. It will include a 100-foot tall clean room, accommodating payload fairings for Blue Origin’s New Glenn and ULA’s Vulcan Centaur.
Project Kuiper aims to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink by deploying more than 3,200 high-speed internet satellites into low Earth orbit. Amazon has already invested billions in the project, reserving 77 heavy-lift launches from Blue, ULA, and Arianespace to support the satellite constellation.
The company is set to launch two prototype satellites in the coming months, showcasing its progress and commitment to transforming the future of satellite-based internet services. With the satellite processing facility in Florida and its ambitious plans, Amazon is making strides towards revolutionizing global internet connectivity through Project Kuiper.