Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) announced on Thursday its intention to initiate the decommissioning process for two prototype satellites launched into space in 2023. These prototypes were part of Amazon’s Kuiper broadband internet constellation, a network comprising over 3,000 satellites to provide internet services and compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.
According to Amazon, the tests conducted on the KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 satellites in low-Earth orbit yielded a “100% success rate” across all key mission objectives. Every major system and subsystem onboard the satellites performed as expected or even better during the tests.
Over the next several months, the test satellites will gradually lower their orbital altitudes from approximately 475 kilometers (295 miles) above Earth to 217 km. Once they reach this altitude, Earth’s atmosphere will naturally pull them down, causing them to burn up upon re-entry—a standard practice for safely disposing of satellites after their missions end.
This controlled deorbiting process serves as a final demonstration for the satellites, showcasing Amazon’s commitment to responsibly managing space debris. With concerns rising about space junk as Earth’s orbit becomes increasingly congested, Amazon aims to deorbit its spacecraft within a year of concluding its missions, aligning with guidelines set forth by U.S. agencies.
The two prototype satellites were launched aboard an Atlas 5 rocket from United Launch Alliance in October 2023. United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, is also slated to deploy several initial batches of operational Kuiper satellites in the coming years.
Initially, Amazon had anticipated launching its first operational satellites by mid-2024. However, the company now expects this debut launch to occur “in the coming months,” reflecting its ongoing efforts to advance the Kuiper project and bring high-speed internet connectivity to underserved regions around the globe.
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