KF-03: SpaceX Launches 24 Internet Satellites For Amazon Project Kuiper

SpaceX launched 24 Project Kuiper satellites for Amazon in the KF-03 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday, October 14, at 0158 UTC, following several days of delays due to adverse weather conditions. About 55 minutes after launch, the Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage deployed the satellites at an altitude of 465 kilometers, after which Amazon’s mission operations center in Redmond, Washington, assumed control for initial health checks before raising them to their operational orbit of 630 kilometers.

About 8 minutes after liftoff and following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage (B1091) landed on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, having previously supported the KF-02 mission. This was the third Falcon 9 launch for Amazon’s Project Kuiper and the sixth batch of Kuiper satellites placed into orbit.

The mission was confirmed successful, with the satellites deployed and handed over to Amazon’s operations team for commissioning. This launch brought the total number of Project Kuiper satellites in orbit to 153.

Project Kuiper is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite internet constellation, aiming to deploy over 3,200 satellites to provide high-speed internet globally. The initial deployment began in April 2025 with the KA-01 mission, and the program plans to complete more than 80 missions to build the full constellation. Earlier launches were conducted by United Launch Alliance (ULA) using Atlas V rockets.