Amazon will build a $120 million satellite-processing facility at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center.
The 100,000 square foot (9,300 sqm) facility will support the rollout of Project Kuiper, Amazon’s plan to provide Internet services around the world via thousands of low-Earth orbit.
“We have an ambitious plan to begin Project Kuiper’s full-scale production launches and early customer pilots next year, and this new facility will play a critical role in helping us deliver on that timeline,” said Steve Metayer, vice president of Kuiper production operations.
“We are proud to partner with Space Florida to bolster the growing space industry in Florida and elsewhere across the United States, and we look forward to adding more talent to our skilled operations and manufacturing team. These employees will play an important part in our mission to connect tens of millions of customers worldwide.”
After numerous delays, Project Kuiper will begin satellite production at a manufacturing facility in Kirkland, Washington, by the end of this year. The new processing facility in Florida will receive those satellite shipments, conduct final preparations, connect satellites to custom dispensers from Beyond Gravity, and integrate the loaded dispensers with launch vehicles.
Amazon has to launch half of its planned 3,236-satellite constellation by July 30, 2026, or risk losing its FCC license to operate the satellite network.
Rival SpaceX, meanwhile, already has more than 4,000 satellites in orbit.
