Amazon entered into an agreement with the United Launch Alliance Alliance (ULA), which involves the launch of Kuiper satellite spacecraft on the Nine Atlas V missiles, reports ARS Technica.
The publication notes that it is not known how many satellites will run on each rocket. ARS Technica reminds that Amazon has not chosen Falcon 9 rocket to remove its spacecraft from Spacex, since the Starlink satellite system is the potential competitor to Kuiper.
According to ARS Technica, ULA has a sufficient number of Atlas V missiles using Russian RD-180 engines, the operation of which will be completed in the next few years.
In April “Roskosmos” said that the Scientific and Production Association (NGOs) “Energomash” transferred the American side of the last six RD-180 engines.
Amazon’s investment in the Kuiper project, over which employs more than 500 people, make up 10 billion dollars. Within the framework of the program, it is planned to excrete 3236 satellites to a low near-earth orbit. By July, 2026 in space there should be at least half of the specified number of spacecraft.