Roundup of @amazon ‘s gigantic tranche of 94 launch contracts for its #ProjectKuiper satellite constellation

1/ Here’s my roundup of @amazon ‘s gigantic tranche of 94 launch contracts for its #ProjectKuiper satellite constellation

These contracts may open up access to space like the US transcontinental railroad 11 Announced Prior to 2022 83 Announced in 2022 94 Launches Total Wow!

2/ Here’s a breakdown of the 11 Launches Announced Prior to 2022 2 2% @ABLspacesystems RS1 (in development) 9 10% @ULAlaunch United Launch Alliance’s #AtlasV (in production) Here’s background on ABL Space Systems https://aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/project-kuiper-announces-plans-and-launch-provider-for-prototype-satellites… And the RS1 https://ablspacesystems.com/rs1/

3/ Here’s a breakdown of the 83 announced in 2022 38 40% @ulalaunch #Vulcan (in development)

18 19% @ArianeGroup @Ariane6 (in development) 12 13% @BlueOrigin #NewGlenn (in development) Optional 15 16% @BlueOrigin #NewGlenn Read more from @lorengrush https://theverge.com/2022/4/5/23010245/amazon-project-kuiper-megaconstellation-arianespace-ula-blue-origin

4/ See my roundup of #HLV capacity to learn more about the rockets in development

https://twitter.com/reidlewis/status/1558445930831020032

5/ Note that #Kuiper has procured are zero (0) launches from two industry workhorse launch providers @SpaceX or #Soyuz launches

Perhaps that choice was intended to catalyze new providers & lower costs

Regardless, the strategy is likely more expensive in the short run

6/ And the strategy is likely riskier as 90% of the launches 85/94 are on unproven rockets

7/ And 50% of the launch providers contracted for 31% of the launches have achieved zero (0) orbital launches

8/ This will be fascinating to watch for the next decade! Learn more about #ProjectKuiper on @wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuiper_Systems

9/ FWIW, you can monitor the news on #ProjectKuiper via email or #rss feed using #GoogleAlerts

10/ 69% of #ProjectKuiper launches rely on new #BE4 engine from @BlueOrigin & an addtl 2% rely on new E-2 engine from @ABLspacesystems

11/ Detail 2 2% @ABLspacesystems RS1 (E-2 new) 9 10% @ULAlaunch #AtlasV (RD-180) 38 40% @ULAlaunch #Vulcan (BE4 new) 

18 19% @ArianeGroup @Ariane6 (Vulcain 2.1)

12 13% @BlueOrigin #NewGlenn (BE4 new) Optional 15 16% @BlueOrigin #NewGlenn (BE4 new) More https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BE-4

12/ UPDATE In a reversal, #ProjectKuiper may consider launches w/ @SpaceX according to Amazon VP Dave Limp reported by @RabiePassant on @Gizmodo saying “you’d be crazy not [to consider SpaceX] given their track record here” Read the story: https://gizmodo.com/amazon-spacex-rival-project-kuiper-satellite-launches-1849715511 but the size of the #satellites requires #SpaceXStarship not #Falcon9 13/ @RabiePassant also noted on @Gizmodo that, to meet the obligations of FCC license, Amazon must launch 50% or 1,618 satellites by 30 July 2026 a mere 45 months from today 31 Oct 2022

14/ UPDATE #ProjectKuiper provider @ABLspacesystems secured a license for the first launch of its new #RS1 putting it in the running to be the first of the new rockets to launch 

See the ABL announcement here: https://twitter.com/ablspacesystems/status/1591913978275725312?s=20&t=oDzqwbElA0u-UR3F_LLXKA

Launch windows are daily 11/14-11/21 from 1-4pm AKST (GMT-9)

Read more about the RS1 https://ablspacesystems.com/rs1/

15/ UPDATE #wenhop #ProjectKuiper provider @ABLspacesystems is now targeting ~7 December for the debut launch of its new #RS1

See the ABL announcement here: https://twitter.com/ablspacesystems/status/1594823515311677458?s=20&t=U3H9JWRKpZY06VzvVAMzMQ

Read more about the RS1 https://ablspacesystems.com/rs1/