At the end of last week, Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, announced that Amazon’s Project Kuiper has expanded to Florida, investing $120 million into the construction of a satellite processing facility at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) located at Kennedy Space Center. The development project has been working under the name Project Comet.
Project Kuiper is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network, which aims to provide fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. This new facility in Florida will enable the company to conduct final preparations ahead of satellite deployment through heavy-lift launch vehicles from Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance (ULA).
Key Amazon Florida Satellite Processing Facility Facts
Amazon to invest approximately $120 million in new construction and high-value equipment
100,000+ square foot in payload processing and support facilities
Bring up to 50 new jobs with an average annual wage of $80,000 plus benefits, and an additional 300 during the construction phase
Amazon’s Project Kuiper utilized Space Florida’s lease structure agreement, which is part of the state’s financial toolkit
Expected operational early 2025
The project will also benefit from the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Spaceport Improvement Program, which is administered by Space Florida and FDOT, and encourages private investment in the Florida Spaceport System by providing matching investment in critical spaceport infrastructure.
“This partnership not only fuels Florida’s reputation as the gateway to space, but also accelerates Space Florida’s mission to transform the Launch and Landing Facility into the premier location for aerospace innovation,” said Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, the chair of Space Florida Board of Directors. “Together, we are solidifying our position as a global leader in the space economy. We look forward to the remarkable achievements and endless possibilities to come.”
“Adding Amazon’s satellite processing facility to the region’s growing industrial capability in commercial space is a testament to the power of building a statewide ecosystem that supports companies across the entire space supply chain,” said Frank DiBello, the president and CEO of Space Florida. “This facility coming to Florida underscores the importance of our decades of infrastructure improvements and capital investments that have transformed Florida into a global center for the space economy. As the first land lease and development project following the installation of the utility corridor at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility, we welcome Amazon to our state and look forward to being part of their mission of global connectivity.”
“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, the 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.”
“We are proud to continue our investment in Florida and to join the historic Space Coast community as we invest in people and facilities to support Project Kuiper, Amazon’s satellite broadband network,” said Brian Huseman, the vice president of public policy and community engagement at Amazon. “We are grateful to Governor DeSantis and his administration, as well as our regional partners, for investing in infrastructure, training a highly skilled workforce, and maintaining an economic climate that allows Project Kuiper to advance our mission of providing internet access to unserved and underserved communities around the world.”
The new facility will play an integral role in Amazon’s plans to begin full-scale production launches and early enterprise customer pilots in 2024. Project Kuiper will eventually serve tens of millions of customers, including residential, enterprise and government customers operating in places without reliable broadband.
With Project Kuiper constructing and operating the facility in the state, Space Florida continues to reach broad manufacturing, assembly, and processing capabilities, and connects those capabilities with the state’s highly accessible research, development, workforce, and training capabilities.
The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) applauded the news.
“Amazon joins a landscape of innovators ushering in the new golden age of space. With the addition of their integration and processing facility at Kennedy Space Center, they are pioneering an industry while joining a legacy built upon decades of historic achievements and a talented workforce,” said EDC President and CEO Lynda Weatherman. “This milestone announcement builds upon the Space Coast’s storied history, while forging our position as not just a place to launch, but the hub of America’s new space economy.”
“We are delighted to welcome Amazon to Brevard County and the historic Kennedy Space Center,” said Rita Pritchett, the chairwoman of the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners. “This announcement exemplifies our region’s strong pro-business environment, world-class talent pool, and the opportunities for businesses looking to expand and locate here. We look forward to celebrating the certain success of Amazon from right here on the Space Coast as they add another chapter to our region’s storied history in the space industry.”
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