Amazon launches first Kuiper satellites

On October 6, at 2:06 p.m, Amazon's first 2 prototype satellites for it's Kuiper program succesfully launched atop a ULA Atlas V 501 rocket. The two satellites are part of Amazon's "Protoflight" mission, which aims to test the 2 satellites in real world environments, helping engineers on the ground study how they operate and what needs to be improved upon before the launch of the planned 3,200 satellite constellation, which aims to bring reliable and affordible broadband to areas that have unreliable connectivity.

Amazon has confirmed that first contact was made with KupierSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 ~50 minutes after the launch and more tests will follow over the coming weeks and months.