Amazon Kuiper second satellite launch postponed by ULA due to rocket booster issue

United Launch Alliance scrubbed the slated June 16, 2025 launch of the Atlas V rocket carrying 27 of Amazon’s second batch of Kuiper Internet satellites roughly 30 minutes before liftoff due to an "elevated purge temperature" detected in the booster’s RD‑180 engine, likely tied to a GN₂ purge line issue that couldn’t be resolved in time. The booster had been fully fueled and rolled out to Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 41 with favorable weather conditions, but ULA’s CEO Tory Bruno emphasized safety first, stating the team would stand down and address the anomaly before rescheduling. The delay marks a setback for Project Kuiper, which plans to deploy over 3,200 satellites by 2029 and aims to begin service in late 2025, with a regulatory milestone to have roughly half its constellation operational by July 2026. More

(Source: CNBC - Jun 17)