Amazon plans to build a secondary support facility for its Project Kuiper satellite processing center at Kennedy Space Center in Florida — a $19.5 million expansion plan that brings total investment in the site to nearly $140 million.
The 42,000-square-foot building will be placed next to the existing 100,000-square-foot structure at the satellite processing facility, Amazon said today in a blog posting. It’s meant to provide additional space for processing and storing flight hardware ahead of launch, allowing for a regular cadence of missions to deploy Project Kuiper’s 3,232-satellite constellation.
Project Kuiper is Amazon’s multibillion-dollar effort to provide broadband internet service around the globe via satellites in low Earth orbit. It’s viewed as a competitor for SpaceX’s Starlink network, which already has more than 6,000 satellites in orbit and more than 3 million subscribers.
Both SpaceX and Amazon manufacture their satellites in the Seattle area. Starlink’s factory is in Redmond, Wash., while Project Kuiper has facilities in Redmond and nearby Kirkland.
So far, Amazon has had only two prototype satellites launched. But over the next few years, most of Project Kuiper’s satellites are expected to be launched from Florida on rockets provided by United Launch Alliance, by SpaceX and by Blue Origin, the private space venture created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The satellite facility in Florida will streamline the process of receiving shipments, connecting satellites to custom dispensers and integrating the loaded dispensers with launch vehicles. The newly announced support facility will feature temperature-controlled storage areas, maintenance bays, multipurpose workspaces and air load rigging capabilities for easily moving heavy equipment. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.
“Expanding investments in Project Kuiper’s infrastructure at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility not only reinforces our commitment to delivering reliable broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities worldwide, but also strengthens Florida’s position as a hub for space innovation and job creation,” said Brian Huseman, Amazon’s vice president for public policy and community engagement.
Amazon said it would also invest in infrastructure and service upgrades at Cape Canaveral as part of its launch agreement with United Launch Alliance. Work is underway on a second ULA vertical integration facility dedicated to Project Kuiper, with completion set for early 2025. The facility is called “VIF-A,” with the “A” standing for Amazon.
Project Kuiper is still on track to begin delivering service to customers in 2025, Amazon said today. There are now more than 2,000 people at Amazon working on the program.
https://ift.tt/6yd17kb August 23, 2024 at 03:34AM GeekWire
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