Amazon Signs Kuiper Launch Pacts With Arianespace, Blue Origin, ULA

Amazon signed contracts for up to 83 launches over five years with Arianespace, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance to put up its Project Kuiper broadband constellation, it said Tuesday. The launches would be the majority of its planned 3,236-satellite constellation, it said. Amazon said it has contracts for 18 Ariane 6 rockets; 12 launches using Blue Origin's New Glenn, with options for up to 15 more; and 38 launches on ULA's Vulcan Centaur. The agreement is atop Project Kuiper’s existing deal to secure nine Atlas V vehicles from ULA, it said.